







?>s2'' ,©At «s'^;'' '3?*' si^A '. ' - 




Qass 
Book 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



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ICTOR 



Baseball 
Guide. 






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X ' V. i V.Alt* "^ 

PUBLISiIE& BY "^ 



OVERMAN WHEEL CO., 

NEW YORK. BOSTON. DETROIT. DENVER. 
SAN FRANCISCO. LOS ANGELES. PORTLAND, Ore. 



Copyright. April, 1896. 



THE VICTOR 



V63/ 



BASEBALL GUIDE, 



PUBLISHED BY 

OVERMAN WHEEL CO., V^N- 

Makers of Victor Bicycles and Athletic Goods. 



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[ !WAY 7 mfUx^%JO^,^^^ 

iViFPT 70i?/)r. BOSTON. DETROIT. DENVER, 

SAN FRANCISCO. LOS ANGELES. PORTLAND, Ore. 



Copyright, April, 1896. 



Publishers^ Notice. 



In preparing this book for the base-ball public, we 
have aimed at three things : — 

First, — To give a readable book, free from dry and 
uninteresting statistics. 

Second, — To tell the public plainly and candidly cer- 
tain truths about the National Game which have here- 
tofore been concealed. 

Third, — To give a comprehensible code of Rules. 

For the first part of the work we have availed our- 
selves of the services of a well known sporting-editor. 
His work has been done carefully and conscientiously. 

For the preparation of a properly-worded code of 
Rules we have secured the services of Clarence W. 
Smith, who is probably the closest student of base-ball 
law in the United States. It has not been the aim to 
introduce much new matter ; but what Mr. Smith has 
done is to make the Rules say what they mean, as 
judged by their actual interpretation and enforcement 
on the ball-field. 

The code of Rules as issued for '96 by the Rules 
Committee of the National League is also printed for 
purposes of comparison, showing how little has been 
changed and how much has been left undone. Our 
code says clearly what the official code tries to say, 
and contains the substance of the Rules although it 
discards their clumsy wording. 




Cut showing Pres. N. E. Young's initials as written on every 

genuine "official National League ball." Balls without 

these initials, but claiming to be official, are frauds. 



THE Victor Ball and 
Adoptions. 



We have always wished to secure for the Victor 
ball as many adoptions as possible, but in no case 
have we ever or will we pay any league or any league 
officer for adopting our ball. Merit not money should 
be the only inducement for a league to use a ball. 
Our unwillingness to pay for adoptions cannot pre- 
vent the Victor ball from becoming very favorably 
and extensively known to the public. They know it, 
however, as ^^the great unadopted ball." Such is the 
fame we wish for our ball. The Victor baseball does 
not need the subsidized fiat of professional leagues to 
prove that it is good. It was a good ball before pro- 
fessional leagues knew of it, and will be a good ball 
long after the fake of adoptions has ceased to weigh 
with and deceive the public. 

A great many adoptions have come to us, the merits 
of the Victor ball having appealed strongly to the 
leagues. Such adoptions are always welcome and we 



THE VICTOR BALL AND ADOPTIONS. 



aim to get as many of them as we can. But we pay 
no league to say that our ball is good. Merit will 
assert itself no matter how deep the silence of leagues, 
and no number of adoptions will make a poor article 
meritorious. It is just here that the deceit in adop- 
tions lies. By adoptions *' you can fool all the people 
some of the time and some of the people all the time " 
so far as baseballs are concerned. But we prefer not 
to fool the people at all. We have accordingly put 
the best labor and material into the manufacture of 
the Victor ball. We charge you for the best material 
properly put together. That is all. We have no great 
adoption fees, drink bills at league meetings, junkets, 
etc., to charge up to you in addition. We should not 
give you full value for your money if we did. A ball 
will not last longer or bat farther if the word " adopted" 
is stamped on the cover. Players prefer good honest 
baseballs to those that sell by adoptions. 

We want every adoption we caii get honestly and 
on the merits. 

We are not in the market to buy adoptions. 

We advertise the Victor ball pre-eminently on its 
merits as the unadopted ball. We are depending on 
the quality of the Victor ball to give it popularity. 

We believe that the time has come when the word 
" adopted " cannot be longer used to hypnotize ball 
players. 

We further have had our attention called to great 
frauds in official baseballs perpetrated on ball players 
under the name "Adopted." We therefore fight shy 
of the name. 



How TO Play Base-Ball, 



BY JOHN M. WARD. 



Surrounding the origin of America's " National 
Game " there exists considerable uncertainty, some 
claiming it to be a mere transposition of the English 
game of "Rounders," while others maintain it to be 
a purely American institution. In a book published 
in 1889 the writer of the present little work went 
into the subject at some length, and . attempted to 
demonstrate by facts, records, and reasoning, that the 
game was entirely an invention of the Yankee boy. 
In a work of this size, such an inquiry would not be 
in place, and a brief sketch only of the recorded his- 
tory of the game will here be given. In 1845 a 
number of gentlemen, who had, for several years, been 
in the habit of meeting regularly to play baseball 
for exercise, formed themselves into a club known as 
" The Knickerbockers," and drew up the first written 
rules of which we have any record. 

Following the organization of the " Knickerbock- 
ers " came the " Washingtons," " Gothams," " Eagles," 
" Empires," " Putnams," " Baltics," " Unions," " Mu- 
tuals," "Excelsiors," "Atlantics," " Eckfords," and 
many other clubs in the metropolitan district. All these 
are names which are surrounded by a halo in the recol- 
lection of every old-time follower of the sport. Philadel- 
phia had its "Athletics" and rival teams, and New 
England its " Olympics," " Elm Trees," and " Green 
Mountains." The game grew rapidly in favor, and in 
1857 a convention of delegates from sixteen clubs loca- 
ted in and around New York city and Brooklyn was 
held and a uniform set of rules adopted. In 1858 a 
second general convention found twenty-five clubs 
represented and a permanent organization called The 
National Association of Base-Ball Players was 
formed. It was already a game for men, since no 

5 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



one under twenty-one years of age was eligible as a 
delegate. 

It is a common impression that the present great 
popularity of the game with the public is something 
of recent growth ; yet as far back as 1858 there was 
played on the Fashion Course, Long Island, a series of 
three games between teams of local players represent- 
ing New York city and Brooklyn which enlisted more 
intense interest and were attended by crowds larger 
than witnessed any three successive New York-Brook- 
lyn games last season. In I860 the National Asso- 
ciation numbered seventy clubs and the sport really 
began to assume a national importance. There were 
delegates from clubs in New York, Brooklyn, Boston, 
Detroit, New Haven, Newark, Troy, Albany, Buffalo 
and other cities, and during that year the '^Excelsiors " 
made a trip through the state, going as far west as 
Buffalo, considered then a remarkable undertaking for 
a ball club. 

The outbreak of the war naturally resulted in a 
cessation of regular play, but it really served to spread 
knowledge of the game. Many were the friendly 
contests fought out between rival teams in camp, and 
the result was to familiarize the sport to players from 
all sections. So that as soon as the war had terminated, 
these mimic battles of the diamond were renewed all 
over the country and, at the meeting of the National 
Association in 1866, a total of two hundred and two 
clubs from seventeen states and the District of 
Columbia were represented, and in addition there 
were present delegates from the Pennsylvania and the 
Northwestern Associations representing more than 
two hundred additional clubs. In 1867 the *^ Nationals " 
of Washington made the first trip ever taken by an 
eastern team through the far west and helped greatly 
to spread the reputation of the game. 

In 1869 the famous Ciiicitmati " Reds," the first all- 
professional team, were organized and went through 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



the season with an unbroken string of victories ; nor 
were they beaten until the next season, when they fell 
before the conquering Atlantics of Brooklyn. 

For the season of 1871 a separate professional or- 
ganization was formed under the name of the Profes- 
sional National Association. 

In 1876 eight leading clubs of the Professional 
National Association, under the guiding genius of 
William H. Hulburt of the Chicago Club, formed an 
independent association called the National League of 
Professional Base Ball Clubs, which since then, almost 
exclusively, has been the controlling power in base- 
ball affairs and remains still the major organization. 
In 1881 a new body of professional clubs, known as 
the American Association, entered the field, and the 
following year the last two named, together with the 
Northwestern League, entered into what was known as 
the Tripartite Agreement, which in 1883 was developed 
into the National Agreement. This was an offensive 
and defensive alliance between the three leading 
leagues, the principal objects of which were to secure 
to each a monopoly of its own territory, and a right to 
the individual clubs each to retain its own players from 
year to year, that is, to " reserve " them. The base- 
ball trust thus created became extremely arrogant and 
oppressive in its dealings with players, and the result 
was the formation among the latter of an organization 
for mutual protection. An attempt by the clubs to 
classify arbitrarily players' salaries and their subsequent 
refusal to treat with or recognize any organization of the 
players, as such, resulted in the formation of the Play- 
ers' National League for the season of 1890. The fight 
waged upon the new league by the older organizations 
was extremely bitter and of such a character as to 
confuse and mislead the public and cause it to stay 
away from all games. After the close of the 
season a consolidation was effected between the rival 
clubs in some of the larger cities, and in the others 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



arrangements were made which terminated the conflict. 
The season of 1890 was extremely disastrous financially 
to many clubs but the salutary effects of that experi- 
ence are yet apparent in the management of the game. 
In 1891 the National League and the American 
Association combined forming a twelve-club league 
which is at present still the leading organization. 
There are minor leagues covering all sections, and the 
number of professional teams is probably greater now 
than ever before. And so the erstwhile schoolboys' 
game and the amateur pastime of later years has 
grown and prospered until it is unchallenged to-day in 
its position as " Our National Game." 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



CHAPTER I. 



Training, Including Exercise, Practice and Diet. 



TRAINING. 



This is a term which has a distinctive meaning when 
used in connection with baseball. In the matter of 
training the regimen is different from that in almost 
every other branch of athletics because the condi- 
tion in which a ball player should be, in order to 
perform the best work on the field, is not that which 
is considered correct for any other class of athletes. 
In so far as it is necessary for him to be regular in 
his habits, avoid excesses and dissipation, keep the 
stomach, liver and other internal organs in good work- 
ing order, and have the muscles free and firm, the 
requirements are the same. 

It needs no argument to prove that a boy in good 
physical condition, well proportioned, with sound 
muscles, healthy blood, and in full possession of all his 
faculties is better fitted naturally to succeed at base- 
ball or any other manly sport than one not so con- 
ditioned. But in the matter of the reduction of 
weight, there is a wide difference in practice, the 
common sense of which may be easily understood. 
When a man is in training for some particular event, 
to occur on a given day and occupy but a brief space 
of time, where one pound of superfluous flesh may prove 
fatal to his chances, he may and should train '' to the 
hour." But the work expected of a professional ball 
player is of a very different description. For six months, 
and day after day, in all kinds of weather and climate, 
in the chilly days of April, the broiling heat of mid- 
summer, and the cold and damp days of October, in 
Boston or Chicago one day and in Washington or 
St. Louis the next, he is obliged to be at it, and the 



10 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

player who started in to go through it all without a 
plenty of reserve force to call upon, would be on a sick 
bed before the season was half finished. That which 
is called *'fine" condition cannot be maintained for 
any great length of time without serious danger to the 
general health. It does not require the testimony of 
physicians and all professional trainers to prove this, 
for the records of athletics are too full of practical illus- 
trations. After a certain period of hard work on bone 
and sinew alone, a man grows weak ; he loses not only 
his strength but also his ambition and spirit and in train- 
ing parlance '* goes stale." After that he is farther from 
being " fit " than before he started in to train. The 
seasoned professionals, those who have been over the 
ground in times past and appreciate what a long stretch 
it is from April to October, are not in so much danger 
from this source as the younger and more ambitious 
players. Many of the otherwise unaccountable " off 
streaks " that attack certain players might be easily 
explained on these grounds. 

Then, too, baseball is such a nerve racking sport. 
To the player who enters into it heart and soul it is a 
constant amd severe drain on the nervous forces, and 
if he has not something to fall back on he will become 
nervously tired, the worst form of exhaustion. The 
system will not be able to stand the strain. 

And so it happens that the wise ball player does not 
train down into so-called fine condition. If he begins 
the season some ten or fifteen pounds over weight he 
will be fine enough by the time the hot weather comes 
and better able, averaging the season, to do the work 
expected from him. 

EXERCISE. 

As to the exercise best suited for a ball player when 
preparing himself for the season there is a diversity of 
opinion. Some prefer the work to be had in a gym- 
nasium, others like a hand ball court ; some profes- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 11 

sionals do all their preliminary work at home, with 
clubs, bells, or pulley-weights and long walks and 
occasional runs ; while of late years, it has become the 
accepted thing with the bigger clubs to take the men 
to some point south, where actual baseball practice can 
be had. This last method under proper conditions is 
of course the best, but as it is possible only for the 
members of professional teams it becomes necessary 
to indicate other forms. Speaking generally, the 
proper preparatory exercise for a ball player is such 
as develops suppleness and agility as distinguished 
from strength, A ball player has no use for big 
muscles. They are in his way and hinder that perfect 
freedom of movement which the game especially 
requires. What he needs are the light, lithe, sinewy 
muscles, that work freely and easily in their sheaths. 
He must be quick and agile and if his muscles are of 
the proper quality and texture he is better off when 
they are not too large. In a gymnasium, the pulley 
weights oifer countless movements, which can be made 
as light as the worker wishes. Sparring, rowing, 
running, the wrist machine, light clubs and bells are 
all good since they may improve the tone of the 
muscles without too much increasing their size. On 
the other hand, the bars, rings, ladders, lifting machine 
and the heavy weights, clubs, and bells should all be 
avoided, because of the liability to sprains. A sound, 
strong throwing arm being an indispensable part of a 
ball player's outfit he can ill afford to take any chances 
of its injury. A small ligament started from its 
fastening is a tedious hurt and sometimes never gets 
entirely well, and for a pitcher is generally fatal to his 
future usefulness. Many players are extremely care- 
less in these details and the result is a new crop of 
lame arms every year. The only careful ones are 
those who have been injured. It is an experience 
men don't care to repeat. 

Probably the best indoor preparation for a ball- 



12 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

player is to be had in a hand ball and racquet court. 
The game enlists the player's interest and the work 
becomes play. It requires quick thought and action, 
affords exercise for all the muscles of the body, of the 
very kind most needed on the ball field, and can be 
regulated in amount to suit individual needs. Some 
men require more work than others, and it would be a 
mistake to work all alike. The player who has twenty- 
five or thirty pounds to lose must naturally put in more 
time than the one who has only five or ten. There are 
some who take on no extra weight in winter, and for 
these the lightest exercise that will put the muscles in 
good condition is all that is required ; while the heavy- 
weight may have to bundle himself up in sweaters and 
flannels and put in hours of hard work in order to 
accomplish the desired result. 

All exercise should be light in the beginning, in- 
crease by easy stages, and never extend to the point 
of exhaustion. Regularity is of more importance than 
quantity. A small amount regularly taken is of much 
greater benefit than a great deal at irregular intervals. 

PRACTICE. 

When the warm days of spring have come and the 
welcome sun has sufficiently dried out the ground, the 
scene is, of course, transferred to the ball field. There 
is no exercise so good for a ball player as ball playing. 
It is the very thing itself, and all the muscles and fac- 
ulties which the game requires are then brought into 
play. But the first days outdoors are full of danger. 
After the long winter's confinement and rest there is 
so much joy attached to it all, that the ardent and 
ambitious player is more than apt to overdo it. In 
his exuberance of spirits he wants to do everything at 
once and cannot be content to begin again easily and 
gradually to get his muscles into working order. And 
so, though the air is still full of frost and the ground 
yet damp, he tries to make long and hard throws and 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 13 

quick starts, all at the imminent risk of lame arms and 
" charley-horses," which may cripple him for weeks or 
months. It is the first week of outdoor work that is 
the most dangerous of the season. No matter how 
well hardened the muscles may have been made in- 
doors the necessity for care is just the same. A man 
may seem in perfect fit in the gymnasium or " cage " 
or hand ball court yet the first hard work outside will' 
make him feel lame and sore. The greatest danger 
is to the throwing arm. He should begin by throw- 
ing short distances and very easily, and not attempt 
under any circumstances to make a hard throw for, at 
least, a week. The slightest twinge of pain should be 
heeded, and immediate care given the injured member. 
If the first week or ten days out of doors have been 
safely passed he begins harder work. If preparing 
for a championship season or a series of games soon to 
begin, he will of course have to do more than if he 
has ample time to make himself fit. As soon as the 
weather is at all suitable professional players practice 
forenoon and afternoon, during several hours each, 
the kind of practice differing under the directions of 
different captains. Batting, fielding, and base-run- 
ning are all given their turns and the most important 
at first is batting. It takes longer to get the " eye " 
in shape than the muscles. 

Base-running practice, too, must not be overlooked. 
A couple of hours now and again, devoted exclusively 
to this, will result in many suggestions of value and 
great improvement in this department. Like the bat- 
ting and fielding practice, it should be made as real- 
istic as possible, and the men should actually run bases 
and slide and go through all the plays as in a game. 

The half day's practice should always be wound up 
with a lively run, long enough continued to get up a 
good sweat. Then a bath and a brisk rub-down and 
the danger from colds, rheumatism, and stiffness will 
be reduced to a minimum. 



14 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



DIET. 

The subject of Training would be incomplete with- 
out some reference to the question of eating and drink- 
ing though it is not possible to speak of the general 
practice of professional players in this respect except 
in terms of reprobation. As a rule they eat not only 
irregularly and improperly, but inordinately, especially 
when traveling. They get up late, usually just about 
in time, by hurrying, to escape being locked out of 
the breakfast room, and thus get a ten-o'clock break- 
fast ; yet one o'clock finds them anxiously waiting for 
the dining-room door to open. Then with naturally 
robust appetites, sharpened by outdoor work, they fall 
to, " like a camp of lumbermen," and the gastronomic 
performances of some of them are more marvelous than 
anything they ever accomplish on the ball field. The 
result is inevitable. A player who gets up from a 
hearty meal at half past two cannot possibly feel like 
taking violent exercise at three-thirty or four. He is 
bound to feel heavy and spiritless. Then as soon as 
he gets well warmed up he begins to cultivate the 
water-keg, and before the game is half over is so 
" tired " and limp and water-logged that he can 
scarcely get in and out from the field ; and as for get- 
ting up on the coach line or doing anything in the 
field or on the bases requiring '* ginger," it is simply 
out of the question. 

Ball players should get up in the morning and eat 
breakfast at a seasonable hour ; then at noon take 
only a light lunch and leave the principal meal of the 
day until evening, after all work is over. Plain, 
wholesome food in moderate quantities and regu- 
larly taken as thus indicated, is what is required. In 
the matter of water drinking during the game, I 
know the intense thirst which the exercise, heat, and 
change of water induce, but still protest against the 
quantity drank. Simply rinsing out the mouth, or 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 15 



gargling the throat, or taking one swallow is just as 
effective in quenching thirst and avoids the evil effects 
of imbibing so much liquid. In the heat of midsum- 
mer a man would require a copper-lined stomach to 
safely drink Lake Michigan water one day, Missouri 
river the next and Ohio river the next, yet this is 
what professionals sometimes have to do ; so that 
extreme care and abstinence are necessary. A bottle 
of ale or beer with the evening meal has a very sooth- 
ing effect on the nerves. Baseball makes such demands 
on the nervous energies that most men really need 
something quieting after a hard-fought struggle. 
There is always more or less said and written about 
what is called dissipation among players, but it is prin- 
cipally commented upon in connection with losing 
teams. As a matter of fact there is very little real 
dissipation among professionals, and what there is, is 
by no means confined to the tail-enders. 



16 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



CHAPTER II 



Injuries and How to Treat Them. 

Under this head it may be advisable to make brief 
reference to some of the injuries common to ball 
players and the usual, if somewhat crude, prevailing 
methods of treatment. 

The most serious accident to which a player is sub- 
ject, because it may permanently incapacitate him, is 
an injury to the throwing arm. As a rule, ball 
players are physically tough and pride themselves on 
being able to ignore some pretty hard knocks, but a 
genuine case of lame arm will make one quit and 
whine like a sick dog. It generally comes as a 
result of a sprain from throwing, or a wrench from 
sliding bases or a collision with some other player and 
sometimes from a cold which settles in the muscles 
and cords around the shoulder or elbow joint. When 
the injury is to the shoulder it is much more serious 
and difficult to cure. Some men think the way to cure 
a lame arm is to " throw it out," but there is nothing 
more hazardous, and anyone who has ever suffered 
from a really serious injury to his arm will appreciate 
the inadvisability of such treatment. It may be pos- 
sible to ^' work out " a slight lameness or soreness of 
the muscles, and perhaps that is the proper remedy, but 
if, when attempting to throw, the pain is severe and 
especially if it is acute, the injury is of such a nature 
that a complete rest for several days or longer is the 
only safe course. At the same time, during the first 
few days after the lameness appears, frequent applica- 
tion of hot water should be made or towels, wrung out 
in hot water, as hot as the skin will stand without 
blistering, laid on, then, after a few days, cold water 
should be used instead of hot, followed always by a 
brisk rubbing and "kneading" of the muscles or 
cords affected. A sleeve of medicated red flannel is a 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 17 

great protection from cold and materially aids the 
recovery. Finally, if after a week or ten days of 
such treatment, there is no, or only slight, improve- 
ment, it may be safely assumed that the injury is to 
some tendon or ligament and the services of an 
electrician should be sought. The intelligent applica- 
tion of electricity has worked some marvelous cures, 
and put renewed life into a number of ''dead" and 
" glass " arms. The ordinary family battery giving a 
mild current is the proper machine and it should be 
applied for about a half-hour every day. During this 
treatment the arm should be used slightly each day 
after each application. I never put much faith in lin- 
iments, though a mixture used by some of the New 
York players did seem to be efficacious in some cases. 
We bought the ingredients and mixed them ourselves 
as follows : 

Ammonia, 2 oz. 

Camphorated Oil, 2^ oz. 

Arnica, 2J oz. 

Goose Grease, 1 oz. 

It is a simple mixture and is certainly a good lubri- 
cant for rubbing purposes, and has this to recommend 
it, that if it do no good it at least can do no harm. 

For the bruises that result from unintentionally 
stopping in-shoots, wild pitches, and hard hit ground- 
ers with the arms, legs, and other unprepared portions 
of the body, immediate rubbing to disperse the bruised 
blood and a few jocular and mock-sympathetic remarks 
from the other players are generally all that is imme- 
diately required. After the game, if necessary, fur- 
ther rubbing and hot water applications are the 
accepted treatment. 

When the hip or knee is skinned from sliding, thin 
sheets of moistened closet paper, applied one after the 
other, as many as will adhere, is the usual remedy. 
Enough layers must be put on to absorb all the moist- 



18 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

ure that exudes from the wound. This immediately 
forms an artificial scab and keeps the underclothing 
from sticking fast and irritating the hurt. 

For dislocated finger-joints there seems to be noth- 
ing to do but pull the joint back in place and then use 
hot water or bind it up with a cloth which may be 
kept moistened with witch-hazel. Don't pull a finger 
if the bone seems broken, no matter whether the joint 
does look to be out. It is safer to call a physician if 
there is one present, and, if not, to seek the nearest 
one at once. 

Another most painful ailment peculiar to ball play- 
ers is known among them as " charley-horse." It is a 
serious sprain or rupture of some one of the large mus- 
cles of the leg, and may occur in a number of ways. It 
may result from the foothold giving away, when at- 
tempting to start quickly ; or from trying to run at top 
speed before first warming up. Sometimes the muscle 
seems actually to part and it becomes altogether impos- 
sible to use the leg. Hot water applications for several 
days and then cold water and electricity — the same 
treatment as that before given for a lame arm — seem to 
be the only things to do and the recovery is always slow. 
It is often weeks before the full use of the limb re- 
turns. An elastic bandage or, better still, an elastic 
roll wound around the affected part gives some sup- 
port and by preventing too free action of the muscles 
takes some of the strain off th© particular one injured. 

When an ankle is turned, as sometimes occurs, there 
is nothing to do but go under the care of a physician, 
and when it is sufficiently strong to be used again an 
elastic half stocking should be worn for protection 
and support. These elastic bandages, rolls, and stock- 
ings may be bought at almost any rubber store and 
at most drug and sporting-goods stores. 

The foregoing are some of the commoner ills. There 
are others of a minor character, supposed to be beneath 
the dignity of a player's notice. For example a wild 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 19 

pitch or in-shoot that carroms off his head into the 
grand stand or side seats may be somewhat disturb- 
ing to the one hit, but by the other players and many 
of the spectators is generally looked upon as quite 
humorous, though, as an injury, is not considered of 
sufficient importance to delay the game. 



20 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



CHAPTER III, 



Batting. 

The most difficult feature of play in which to acquire 
proficiency and yet the one to which the least atten- 
tion is usually given, is the batting. Especially among 
amateur players inability to hit is the great weakness, 
as compared with the fielding. One may see just as 
brilliant fielding done in some of the amateur games 
as can be seen anywhere among professionals, but the 
batting is usually light. Much of this relative inequal- 
ity might be overcome, if more time and attention 
were given to it. It is not batting practice to take a 
bajl in the hand and hit grounders to the in-field or 
long flies to the out-field. I do not share the opinion 
of those gentlemen who think such practice a positive 
injury to good hitting. It is so entirely dissimilar to 
that which is required when actually batting against 
pitched balls that it no more injures the player's hitting 
than would lawn tennis or exercise with Indian clubs. 
It does help develop many of the same muscles of 
the wrists, arms, body, and legs that are used in actual 
play and to that extent is a good thing, but its use- 
lessness as an aid to good hitting lies in the fact that 
it does not train the eye. 

Neither is it all of batting practice to hit against 
the easy tosses of some small boy or the slow lobs of 
a lazy pitcher. The only real practice is where the 
batter takes his place at the home-plate with a good 
swift pitcher in his regular position, the one to hit and 
the other to pitch, each trying his best to outdo the 
other. In that way only, can the brain, muscles, and 
eye be taught all to work in unison. There is one 
thing to be avoided, and that is, hitting against a swift 
pitcher who does not know himself where the ball is 
going. A violent blow in some tender spot from a 
wildly pitched ball will often injure a player's hitting 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 21 

for days or weeks thereafter. It is such a painful 
experience that it often develops an uncontrollable 
nervous fear that will make a man thereafter shrink 
and step away from the plate almost in spite of himself. 
The fear of being hit is what makes poor batters. It 
was a splendid change in the rules which placed the 
pitcher farther away and gave the batter a chance to 
feel that at least he could get his head out of the way 
when necessary. A hard blow on the arm, body, or 
leg is bad enough, but when a player felt, as he often 
did in facing some of the swiftest pitchers, that he was 
practically taking his life in his hand, he was often 
thinking more of getting out of the way than of hit- 
ting the ball. 

The theory of batting is simplicity itself. All that 
is necessary is to wait until the ball comes over the 
plate and then hit it on a line back into the field. 
From the grand stand, nothing could be easier. To 
sit back of the catcher and see the balls come sailing 
over the plate, the average spectator will wonder why 
they are not hit out of the lot, but to the batter him- 
self the thing looks very different. Facing a pitcher 
at a distance of sixty feet, who, with apparently the 
same movement of the arm, sends in one ball with the 
speed of a bullet and the next so slow that it seems to 
drag in the air, with an in-curve, out-curve, or drop 
that only takes effect in the last fifteen or twenty 
feet, before reaching him, it often becomes a question 
of hitting the ball at all, to say nothing of making a 
hit. Still, there are certain points to be observed, 
especially in the matter of '* form," and while there are 
apparently many different styles of hitting they all, to 
be successful, must agree in these respects. 

Of course, the element of chance or " luck," as it is 
called, enters largely into the question. The hardest 
hit will sometimes go directly into the waiting hands 
of a fielder, while a little *^punk" hit from the handle 
or extreme end of the bat may drop lazily into some 



22 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

unguarded spot. But, in the course of a season, these 
chances should about equalize one another, and, though 
fate may seem to be against a man for a half dozen or 
more games, he will be found finally to have benefited 
as much by *' scratch " hits as he has lost in good, hard 
drives. 

The first consideration in learning to bat is to ac- 
quire the proper form. By this is not meant the posi- 
tion to be assumed while waiting for the pitch, because 
each batter may and generally does have his distinc- 
tive style. But when in the act of hitting there is a 
certain form to be observed, and this, in its salient 
points, is the same with all good batters. 

Standing within easy reach of the plate, the batter 
should hold himself in readiness to hit a high ball. It 
is easier to hit a low ball when expecting a high one 
than to hit a high ball when a low one was expected, 
for the reason that it is easier to drop the bat quickly 
and swing underhand than it is to elevate it and chop 
overhand. When the ball is pitched he should not 
move until he has seen where the ball is going. Not 
until in the act of swinging his bat should he step for- 
ward, and then his step should be short, and, generally, 
directly toward the pitcher. When he hits, the body 
should be held erect and thrown slightly forward, so 
that when the bat meets the ball the weight is princi- 
pally on i\iQ forwarclioot. 

If he steps too soon, his position is taken and he 
cannot change it to suit any slight miscalculation he 
may have made in the speed or direction of the ball. 

A short stride is important, because then, if any 
miscalculation has been made in the height or speed 
or location of the ball, he is still able to change posi- 
tion, whereas a long stride puts him in such position 
that no such change can be made. It will be found, 
also, that a long stride loses him all benefit of height 
and reach and forces him to hit up at a high ball 
which he might otherwise have met on a line. Players 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 23 

who make a long step in hitting naturally must sink 
down as they hit and this places them at a great dis- 
advantage on high balls. A ball that would have 
been of fair height is then clear over the head. The 
batter should generally step directly toward the 
pitcher, unless there are special reasons for doing 
otherwise as, for example, if he is trying to hit 
toward a particular field. In that case he must step 
accordingly. A right hand batter attempting to hit 
toward right field stands further away from the plate 
and steps in toward the plate. But when his aim is 
simply to hit the ball, he should step short, not too soon 
and, generally, directly toward the pitcher. By standing 
erect the batter maintains his balance better, and is in 
position to hit at any good ball. In the act of hitting 
the body is thrown slightly forward, so that the weight 
and force of the body, as well as of the arms, may be 
given to the stroke. It is not necessary to hit so 
very hard to drive a ball. The secret lies in meeting 
it sharply and solidly and putting in the weight of the 
shoulder just at the moment of impact. There are 
some good batters who seem to hit almost entirely 
with the arms, while others use principally the 
shoulders and rather push than swing. But the freest 
and best hitters use the body, shoulders, arms, and 
wrists, and when these are all trained to work well 
together, a ball may be driven with great force with 
seemingly little effort. 

It is a mistake to swing too hard at a ball. The ex- 
treme effort is bound to disturb that nice appreciation 
of time, height, distance, and speed, that is so essential 
to correct judgment. It is much better to think only of 
single hits and then often a man will see, at the last 
instant, that he has the ball under control and be able 
to put in the extra force that will send it through the 
fielders or over their heads for a long hit. Some of 
the longest hitters are men who seem to make the^ 
least effort. 



24 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

In hitting at a high ball, the bat should be 
swung somewhat overhand, and so also, for a low ball, 
it is better to stand well erect and cut underhand. 
If the bat is swung in a horizontal plane, the least 
miscalculation is fatal. ^ If the ball strikes above or 
below the center line of the bat, it goes either up in 
the air for the outfield or on the ground to the in- 
field. While if the bat is swung perpendicularly, or 
approximately so, the same amount of miscalculation 
will only result in the ball striking a little farther up 
or down on the center line of the bat, or, if it does not 
strike fairly on the center line, it will still be thrown 
oif toward first or third on a line, and not up or down 
as would otherwise be the case. In holding the bat 
some players keep the two hands together, while oth- 
ers hold them slightly apart. The latter gives better 
control of the bat, but does not permit as free move- 
ment. Each player should decide as to this himself 
and choose that style which comes the more natural. At 
a critical stage where a sacrifice hit only is needed, it is 
perhaps safer to take the bat short and with the hands 
apart, and then leaning well in over the plate, one is 
much less likely to hit up one of those exasperating 
infield flies, which are especially to be avoided at such 
a time. 

Every ball player who pretends to play the game 
with his brain as well as with his body should be able 
to hit in whatever direction he wishes. It may not be 
possible to " place " the ball in any particular spot, 
but he can and should be able to hit either to left 
field or right, as the occasion demands. The advan- 
tage of this to the player himself and to his team 
cannot be overestimated and will appear further in 
considering the subject of team work. 

Confidence is a great factor in successful hitting. 
The player who goes timidly to the plate, feeling that 
he cannot hit a pitcher, is already half out. On the 
other hand, the one who goes up feeling that he can 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 25 

hit becomes inspired by his own confidence and for 
that very reason is much more likely to do so. 

Enthusiasm is another element in good hatting. A 
man who can wake up to an occasion will do better 
work as the occasion requires it. This is the reason 
that batting goes so much in streaks. A nine that 
has not made a hit for several innings will suddenly 
start in and bat out a victory. One player leads off 
with a good hit and is followed by another and another, 
each benefited by the confidence and enthusiasm the 
preceding batters have aroused. 

It goes without saying that the player's eyesight 
must be perfect or he can never hope to be a good 
batter. It requires the keenest kind of an eye to 
keep track of the ball and tell when it is over the 
plate and at the proper height. 

So, too, the nerves must be kept in good condition 
or the player will be unable to resist the temptation 
to hit at wide balls. A nervous batter is easily 
"worked," because he is so anxious to hit that he 
cannot wait for a good ball. 

But the most important attribute of all in the com- 
position of a good batter is courage. In this term I 
include the self-control and the resolution by which a 
man will force himself to stand before the swiftest 
and wildest pitching without flinching, the fearless- 
ness that can contemplate the probability of a blow 
from the ball without allowing the judgment to be 
affected. Out of ten poor batters nine are so because 
they are afraid of being hit. It is often asked, " Why 
are pitchers, as a rule, such poor batters?" and to 
this the answer in my own mind has always been that 
it is because they know so well the danger which the 
batter incurs. There is perhaps no such thing as abso- 
lute fearlessness ; the batter who has once been hit 
hard — and all of them have — will never quite forget 
the occurrence, and he will forever after have the 
respect for the ball that a burned child has for the 



26 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

fire. But some men do not allow this feeling to over- 
come them, and this requires courage and self-control. 
It is absolutely necessary, then, to first conquer 
one's self, to fight down fear and forget everything 
except that the ball must be hit. To some, this seems 
not a difficult matter, to many it comes only after the 
most determined effort and schooling of the nerves, 
while to a few it seems to be an utter impossibility. 
The instinct of self-preservation is such a controlling 
power with them that unconsciously they draw away 
from the ball, and, try as they will, they cannot stand 
up to the plate. The player who cannot overcome 
this feeling will never be a good hitter, though when 
he finds that he is a victim he should not give up with- 
out a struggle. Some players have broken themselves 
of the habit of running away from the plate by step- 
ping back with the rear foot, instead of forward with 
the forward foot, when in the act of hitting. Others 
step neither way, but hit as they stand, simply throw- 
ing the body forward. Every expedient should be 
tried before the case is given up as incurable. But if, 
finally, the habit proves uncontrollable, the victim 
would better save his own feelings and the regard of 
his friends by taking up some less dangerous pastime. 
Nothing destroys one's respect for a ball player so 
completely as to see him flinch in some critical situa- 
tion. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 27 



CHAPTER IV 



Fielding. 



In a work of the modest pretension of the present 
it would be out of the question to attempt any detailed 
description of the play in each position. The plays 
and combinations which may arise are countless, and 
so for the purposes of this chapter it will be conven- 
ient to divide the fielders into three classes, the bat- 
tery, the infield, and the outfield. 

THE BATTERY. 

It is not unusual to speak of this or that position as 
being the most important on a team, but as a matter 
of fact they are all so interdependent that any one 
being weak destroys the strength of the whole. How- 
ever, if any one department of the fielding strength of 
a team can be said to be more important than the 
others, it is the battery. Upon the pitcher and 
catcher devolve much of the brunt of the battle, and 
if they are not efficient the best efforts of all the 
others may prove unavailing. On the other hand a 
cool, steady, effective pitcher, backed up by a clever, 
wide-awake catcher, will put life and courage into an 
otherwise mediocre nine and win games from teams of 
really better average ability. A very great deal depends 
upon the pitcher. He is the attacking force of the 
nine, the positive pole of the battery, the central figure 
around which the others are grouped. From the for- 
mation of the first written code of rules in 1845, down 
to the present time, this pre-eminence has been main- 
tained, and though the amendments of succeeding 
years have caused it to vary from time to time, its rel- 
ative importance is almost as marked to-day as at any 
preceding period. In a normal development of the 
game the improvement in batting would unquestion- 
ably have outstripped the pitching, and finally over- 



28 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

come this superiority ; but the removal of certain 
restrictions upon the pitcher's motions, the legalization 
of the underhand throw instead of the old straight-arm 
pitch, the introduction of " curve " pitching, and, 
finally, the unrestricted overhand delivery, kept the 
pitching always in the lead. At several different 
times, notably in the abolition of the distinction be- 
tween high and low balls and in the removal of the 
pitcher's position five feet farther from the batter, an 
effort has been made to secure an evener adjustment 
and the result has been a decided addition to the inter- 
est of the games. 

The qualities of mind and body necessary to consti- 
tute a good modern pitcher are rarely combined in 
a single individual. First-class pitchers are almost as 
rare as prima donnas, and out of the many thousand 
professional and amateur ball players of the country 
not more than a dozen in all are capable of doing the 
position entire justice. 

The first thing necessary is the ability to throw a 
ball with speed, and unless one has a fair share of this 
he will never become a leading pitcher. 

Next, one must be possessed of more than an ordi- 
nary amount of endurance. It is by no means a simple 
task to pitch an entire game through and still be as 
effective in the ninth inning as in the first ; and when, 
as sometimes happens, the contest is prolonged by an 
extra number of innings, the test is severe. This being 
true of a single game, how much more tiresome it 
becomes when continued regularly for an entire sea- 
son, during the chilly days of the spring and fall and 
under a broiling July sun, can be appreciated only by 
one who has gone through it. And what with all day 
and all night rides from city to city, broken rest and 
hasty meals, bad cooking, and changes of water and 
climate, the man is extremely fortunate who finds 
himself in condition to play every day when wanted. 
Only a good constitution, a vigorous digestion, the 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 29 

most careful habits, and lots of grit, will enable him to 
do it. 

Besides force and stamina, there are certain mental 
characteristics necessary. A pitcher must be possessed 
of courage and of self-control. He must face the 
strongest batter with the same confidence that he 
would feel against the weakest, for it is only so that 
he can do himself entire justice ; and he must be able 
to pitch in the most critical situations with the same 
coolness as at any other stage. He must control his 
own feelings so as not to be disconcerted by anything 
that may happen, whether through his own fault, that 
of a fellow player, or through no fault at all. He 
must continually bear in mind that all are working for 
a common end, and that the chances of victory will be 
only injured if he allows his attention to be diverted 
by unavoidable accidents. To continually display an 
ugly temper at the little mishaps sure to occur in 
every game is to play into the hands of the opposing 
side. 

The next point is to acquire a correct position in 
the " box," and an easy, yet deceptive, style of deliv- 
ery. The position is, to a great extent, prescribed by 
the rules, and so much of it as is not can be learned 
by observing the different pitchers. The position 
which seems most natural should be chosen. The 
ball should be held in exactly the same way no matter 
what kind of curve is to be pitched. Being obliged 
by rule to keep the ball before the body, in sight of 
the umpire, any difference in the manner of holding it 
will be quickly noticed by a clever batter, and if for a 
particular curve it is always held in a certain way, he 
will be forewarned of the kind of ball to expect. 
Some batters pay no attention to these little indica- 
tions ; but the majority are looking for them all the 
time, and once they detect any peculiarities, they will 
be able to face the pitcher with much greater confi- 
dence. The correct manner of holding the ball for 



30 . THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

every kind of delivery is between the thumb and the 
first and middle fingers. 

It is' true there are some curves which may be better 
acquired by holding the ball differently in the hand, 
but this advantage is outweighed by the other consid- 
erations of which I have just spoken. 

As for the style of delivery, it should be remem- 
bered that the easiest movement is the best. A long, 
free sweep of the arm, aided by a swing of the body, 
will give more speed, be more deceiving to the batter, 
and less fatiguing than any possible snappy or jerky 
motion. Facing the striker before pitching, the arm 
should be swung well back and the body around so as 
almost to face second base in the act of delivery ; this 
has an intimidating effect on weak nerved batters ; 
the batter cannot tell from what point the ball will 
start, and it seems somehow to get mixed up with the 
pitcher's arms and body so that it is not possible to 
get a fair view of it. 

But mere contortions will not supply the place of 
speed, judgment, and control. That kind of pitcher soon 
gets the kinks knocked out of his arms and back when 
he comes to face experienced, cool-headed batsmen. 

Not only must the ball always be held in the same 
way before pitching, but in the act of delivery the 
swing of the arm must be identical or so nearly so 
that the eye of the batter can detect no difference. 
All this means that the pitcher must not give the 
striker the slightest inkling of the kind of ball to 
expect, so that he will have the shortest possible time 
in which to prepare to hit. A pitcher should not try 
to use too many different curves. The accomplished 
twirler can pitch any kind of curve, but there are some 
which he seldom employs. It is impossible to be accu- 
rate when too many deliveries are attempted, and accu- 
racy is of far greater importance than eccentric curves. 
Almost all professional pitchers now use the overhand 
or half-overhand delivery and pitch only a fast, straight 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 31 

ball and a curve. The fast ball, thrown half- overhand 
and thereby given a rotation on a diagonal axis, 
"jumps " in the air, that is, it rises slightly and curves 
in, while the curve, pitched with the same motion, 
goes outward and downward. The curve will neces- 
sarily be slower than the straight ball, and this will 
give all the variation in speed needed to unsettle the 
batter's ** eye " and confuse him in " timing " the ball. 
Some pitchers are able, keeping the same motions, to 
vary the speed even of the curve and straight balls, 
but, as before said, this is apt to be at the expense of 
accuracy, and should not be attempted by the young 
player. Occasionally, say once an inning, a pitcher 
may make a round arm or underhand motion simply 
to mislead the batsman, and if the game is safely won 
he may use an underhand delivery if he finds it rests 
his arm, but these are exceptional instances. 

The importance of accuracy cannot be too strongly 
emphasized. The better control of the ball the greater 
will be the pitcher's success, for no matter how many 
wonderful curves he may be able to get, unless he has 
perfect command he will never be a winning pitcher. 
To acquire thorough control requires long and patient 
practice. A pitcher should always practice pitching 
over something laid down to represent a plate, and, if 
possible, get a batter to stand and hit against him. 
He should practice with some method, at first pitching 
nothing but a straight ball, and trying to put it directly 
over the plate every time. When a pitcher is able to 
cut the center of the plate seven times out of ten he 
may begin with his curve and work it in the same way. 
Finally, when he can also control the curve, he should 
try to alternate it with a straight ball. He will find 
that he cannot do this at first and retain command of 
each, but he should keep at it, an hour or more regu- 
larly every day, till he can. When he has acquired 
perfect command of both, he may then begin to work 
the corners. 



33 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

It is always necessary that the catcher should know 
something as to what kind of ball the pitcher is about 
to pitch. To this end there are certain signals ex- 
changed. The universal practice now is for the 
catcher to signal to the pitcher and if the ball asked 
for is not what the pitcher thinks best to deliver he so 
notifies the catcher, either by a shake of the head or, 
better yet, by some return private signal. The utmost 
care is required on the pitcher's part not to get these 
signals mixed or the result will be a pitch that will 
escape the catcher, even if it does not do serious 
injury to his fingers. In all these matters the pitcher 
and his catcher must work with the most absolute har- 
mony. No misunderstandings or disputes must occur. 
In this way only can the pitcher's full skill be brought 
into effect. 

A strategic pitcher is one who depends for success 
not simply on speed and curves, but who outwits the 
batsman by skill, who deceives his eye, and plays upon 
his weaknesses. What will be the best method for a 
particular case must be decided in each instance by 
the pitcher himself, and his success will depend upon 
his judgment and cleverness. But while no general 
rule can be laid down, it is still possible to offer some 
useful suggestions. 

Assuming that a pitcher has never seen the batters 
whom he is about to face, there are certain points to 
be noted as each of them takes his place at the bat. 
First, his position and manner of holding his bat 
should be observed. If he carries it over his shoulder 
and in an almost perpendicular position, the chances 
are that he is naturally a high ball hitter and is look- 
ing for that kind of a pitch, because that is the position 
of the bat from which a high ball is most easily hit. 
If, on the contrary, he carries his bat lower and in a 
more nearly horizontal position, he is ready either to 
*' chop " over at a high ball, or " cut " under at a low 
one, the chances being that he prefers the latter. Of 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 33 

still more importance is his movement in hitting, and 
this the pitcher must try to discover before the batter 
has hit the ball at all. A fast out-curve pitched just 
out of his reach will draw him out and his movements 
should be carefully noted. If, in stepping forward to 
hit, he also steps away from the plate toward the 
third base, he is timid and afraid of being hit. If, 
however, he steps confidently forward, almost directly 
toward the pitcher^ he is a dangerous man and all the 
pitcher's skill will be needed to outwit him. Again, 
if in stepping forward he makes a very long stride, it 
shows that he is not only anxious to hit but means to 
hit hard, and such a man is easily deceived. But if 
he makes a short stride, keeping easily his balance and 
standing well upright^ he is more than likely a good 
hitter, even though he steps away from the plate, and 
if in addition to stepping short he also steps toward 
the pitcher, he is a batsman to be treated with the 
greatest respect. 

A batter who steps away from the plate should be 
worked on the outside' corner ; one who steps in, on 
the inside corner ; one who makes a long, vicious 
swing at the ball, will be more easily deceived by a 
slow ball than one who " snaps " or hits with a 
short, quick stroke ; one who strides long must nec- 
essarily stoop or crouch, and is in bad form to hit 
a high ball ; if he swings his bat always in a horizon- 
tal plane, he will not be able to hit a shoulder or knee 
ball as well as one who swings in a perpendicular 
plane, ^. 6., who *^ cuts " under at a low ball and 
*' chops " overhand at a high ball ; there are some 
batters who prefer to hit only at a fast, straight ball, 
while others wait for a curve, and in such a case the 
pitcher may get a strike or two by pitching what he 
will not care to hit at ; some are never ready to hit at 
the first ball pitched, so that by sending this in over 
the plate a strike may be secured ; some are known 
as great " waiters," who will only hit when forced. 



34 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

and these should be forced to hit at once ; others are 
anxious and cannot wait, and may be safely '' worked " 
wide of the plate. Then occasionally there will be 
found a batter who betrays by his manner when he 
has made up his mind to hit, and in that case he will 
let go at anything within reach ; therefore a ball 
should be pitched where he will be least likely to hit 
it. If the pitcher finds a batter facing for a hit to 
right field, he should not give him the ball out from 
him, but crowd him with it, keeping it on the inside 
corner, and it will be almost impossible for him to 
succeed. 

It does not do to work the same batter always in 
the same way, or he will discover a pitcher's method. 
Sometimes the pitcher must " cross" him, and at times 
it is even advisable to give him a ball just where he 
would like to have it, but where, for that very reason, 
he least expects it. 

Finally, a pitcher should not be in a hurry to deliver 
the ball. As soon as the catcher returns the ball the 
pitcher should assume a position as though about to 
pitch and stand there ; he should take all the time 
the umpire will permit. This will allow him to give 
and receive any necessary signal from the catcher, it 
will rest him and thus enable him to keep up his speed, 
and, finally, it will work upon the nerves and eyesight 
of the batter. The latter will grow impatient and 
anxious, and unless his eyes are very strong the long 
strain in a bright light will blear his sight. 

FIELDING THE POSITION. 

Some pitchers seem to harbor the impression that 
nothing else is expected of them but to pitch the ball, 
and the eifect of this opinion is to diminish their 
worth to a very great extent. A pitcher is just as 
much a fielder as any of the other players, and may 
render his side efficient service by his ability to prop- 
erly care for his part of the work. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 35 

He must closely watch runners on bases so as not 
to allow them too much ground. 

In fielding ground-hits he is required to exert con- 
siderable activity on account of the very short time 
allowed him. He must have the courage to face a 
hard hit, because on account of the position of the 
second baseman and short-stop such a hit will gener- 
ally be safe if he does not stop it, or at least turn its 
course. It is his place to get most " bunted " hits. 
It is a disadvantage to have to bring a third baseman 
in close to get hits which a live pitcher should be able 
to field. When a batter who is likely to bunt the ball 
comes to the bat, the pitcher must be ready at every 
ball pitched to move in the direction of the third base 
line, where such hits are usually made, and if the bunt 
happens to be along the first base line, he can still 
field it in time. 

On a hit to the first baseman the pitcher should 
cover the base, and not wait until he sees whether it 
is fumbled before starting, but the instant the hit is 
made go for the base ; he will then be there and ready 
to receive the ball and not be forced to take it on the 
run. So, too, the occasion may arise when he should 
cover second or third, where some combination of play 
has taken the baseman away and left the base un- 
covered. 

In all cases where a runner is caught between bases 
the pitcher must take part in the play. If the runner 
is between first and second, the pitcher will back up 
the first baseman, leaving the short-stop to back the 
second baseman ; if. between second and third, he will 
back up the third baseman ; and if between third and 
home, he will back the catcher. 

The pitcher must back up the catcher, the first and 
third basemen, on all throws from the outfield. He 
must not wait until the throw is made before getting 
in line, but, the moment the probability of such a throw 
arises, he* should get there, and then he can see the 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



entire play, and will be sure to get in a line with the 
throw. In backing up he must not get too close to 
the fielder he is backing, otherwise what is a wild 
throw to the latter will be likewise to him. He should 
keep from fifty to seventy five feet away. 

With runners on bases he should be sure that he 
understands the situation perfectly before pitching, 
and he must keep it in mind ; then, if the ball is hit to 
him, he need lose no time in deciding upon the proper 
place to throw it. If his play is to try for a double by 
way of second base, he should not wait until the base- 
man gets there and then drive the ball at him with all 
his might ; but he should toss it to the baseman as he 
runs for the base, timing the speed of the throw so 
that the baseman and the ball will reach the base to- 
gether. Thus no time will be lost, and the throw 
being easy, may be much more quickly and safely 
handled. 

In short, a pitcher should make himself useful wher- 
ever he can, and use his wits in fielding as well as in 
pitching. He must not be disheartened by poor 
support or unavoidable accidents, but should keep up 
his courage, and the entire team will be infused with 
his spirit. There are some pitchers who are not hit 
hard and yet seldom win because they display such a 
lazy disposition in the box that they put all the other 
players to sleep ; and, again, there are others not so 
successful in the matter of base hits who yet win more 
games, on account of the confidence they inspire and 
the aggressive spirit they impart to their fellow 
players. 

THE CATCHER. 

Next after the pitcher, in regular order, comes the 
catcher. Though the negative pole of " the battery," 
his support of the pitcher will largely influence the 
latter's efficiency, and he therefore becomes an impor- 
tant factor in the attacking force. Were it not for 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 37 

the extreme liability to injury, the position of catcher 
would be the most desirable on the field ; he has 
plenty of work of the prettiest kind to do, is given 
many opportunities for the employment of judgment 
and skill, and, what is dearer than all to the heart of 
every true ball player, he is always in the thickest of 
the fight. Moreover, his w^ork, unlike that of the 
pitcher, always shows for itself, and is therefore always 
appreciated. A pitcher's success depends upon many 
circumstances, some of which are beyond his own con- 
trol, so that, no matter how faithfully or intelligently 
he may work, he must still often suffer the annoyance 
and mortification of defeat. But the catcher has 
almost complete control of his own play, he is depend- 
ent upon no one but himself, and, in spite of every- 
thing and everybody, the nature of his work remains 
the same. 

There are some cases in which a steady, intelligent 
catcher is of more worth to a team than even the 
pitcher, because such a man will make pitchers out of 
almost any kind of material. 

Size seems not to be of vital importance though, 
other things being equal, a tall, active player has an 
advantage because of his greater reach, and he makes 
a better mark for the pitcher. His weight likewise 
gives him a better chance in the collisions with desper- 
ate runners at the home-plate. It goes without say- 
ing, that he must have grit to face the swiftest pitching 
and the stamina to keep up the work day after day. 
He must also have a head on his shoulders. The 
ideal catcher not only stops the ball and throws well 
to bases, but he is quick of wit, loses no time in de- 
ciding upon a play, gives and receives signals with- 
out confusion, and is never rattled or out of temper. 
Some of the most successful catchers are not remark- 
able back-stops nor particularly strong or accurate 
throwers, but, on account of their generalship and 
heady play, are recognized as " winning " catchers. 



38 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

The first thing for the beginner is to acquire a cor- 
rect style, that is, an approved position of body, hands, 
and feet, the best manner of catching a ball, the proper 
place to stand, how to throw quickly, and the best 
motion for throwing. After this comes the study of 
the different points of play. There are as many dif- 
ferent styles in detail as there are individual catchers, 
and yet, through all, there run certain resemblances 
which may be generalized. 

As to the position of the body, all assume a stoop- 
ing posture, bending forward from the hips, in order 
better to get a low as well as a high pitch. Some 
crouch almost to the ground, but such a position must 
be not only more fatiguing, but destroy somewhat the 
ability to gauge a high pitch. A catcher should not 
stand with his feet too widely apart. It is a mistake 
some players make, but a little reflection will convince 
a catcher that a man in such an attitude cannot change 
his position and handle himself as readily as if he stood 
with his feet nearer together. Besides, on a low 
pitched ball striking the ground in front of him it is 
necessary to get the feet entirely together to assist 
the hands in stopping it, and this he cannot do if he 
is too much spread out. These things may appear to 
be of minor importance, but it is their observance 
which often makes the difference between a first-class 
and an ordinary catcher. 

A catcher should not stand directly back of the 
plate, but rather in line with its outside corner ; and 
when he gives his sign for the kind of ball to be 
pitched, he should not, by any movement out or in, 
indicate to the batter what is coming ; there are some 
batters who glance down at the plate to see, from the 
corner of the eye, where the catcher is standing. The 
catcher will have ample time to move after the pitcher 
has begun his delivery and when the batter's attention 
is wholly occupied with that. If an out-curve is com- 
ing, he should be ready to move out, or if an in-curve. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 39 

or fast, straight ball, he should be ready to step in. 
He must not anchor himself and try to do all his 
catching with his hands, but in every instance, if pos- 
sible, receive the ball squarely in front of him. Then 
if it breaks through his hands it will still be stopped 
by his body. 

Some players catch with the fingers pointing toward 
the ball, but such men are continually being hurt. A 
slight foul-tip diverts the course of the ball just enough 
to carry it against the ends of the fingers, and on 
account of their position the usual result is a break or 
dislocation. But with the hands held as indicated in 
the cuts there is a '^ give " to the fingers and the 
chances of injury are much reduced. 

Some catchers throw more quickly than others be- 
cause, as soon as they see the runner start, they get into 
position while the ball is coming. Instead of stand- 
ing square with the plate, they advance the left foot a 
half step, and then, managing to get the ball a little 
on the right side, have only to step the left foot 
forward the other half step and let the ball go. To 
throw without stepping at all is not advisable, because 
on account of the long distance it would n^.c be possi- 
ble to impart sufficient speed ; to take more than one 
step occupies too much time, more than is gained by 
the extra speed obtained ; so that the best plan and 
the one used by the most successful catchers is the 
one just described. It is not however the speed of 
the throw alone that catches a base-runner, but the 
losing of no time in getting the ball on the way. Some 
very ordinary throwers are hard men to steal on, 
while others, who put much greater speed on the ball, 
are not so successful. 

A catcher may make round-arm and snap throws in 
throwing to first or third, but in throwing to second a 
full free overhand swing is the best. The ball carries 
better and is much easier to handle for the baseman. 

A word about high foul flies may not be amiss since 



40 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

many such chances are offered the catcher. A pitched 
ball hit directly up is given a tremendous twist by 
contact with the bat and this rotation carries it for- 
ward as it descends. This must be allowed for or 
these hits will be continually misjudged. 

There is one more point in fielding the catcher's posi- 
tion which requires a few words, that is, as to touch- 
ing a runner coming home. There is a difference of 
opinion as to the best place for the catcher to stand 
when waiting for the throw to cut off such a runner. 
The general practice is to stand a couple of feet from 
the plate toward third base and in front of the line. 
But this necessitates the catcher's turning half-way 
round after catching the ball before he can touch the 
runner, and many an artful dodger scores his run by 
making a slide in which he takes, at least, the full 
three feet allowed him out of the line. Many a run 
has been scored where the catcher seemed to have had 
the ball in waiting. 

I believe the best place to stand is a couple of feet 
toward third and just hack of the line. The catcher 
saves the time of turning around and has the addi- 
tional advantage of having the play in front of him, 
where he can better see every movement of the run- 
ner. When the game is depending upon the one 
put-out the best place of all to stand is a few feet 
toward third and directly on the line. From there the 
catcher can reach the runner whether he runs in front 
of or behind him, and if he slides directly for the plate 
he will come against the catcher and may therefore 
not be able to reach it, or, at least, the catcher may 
delay him long enough to make the put-out. It is an 
extremely dangerous play for the catcher, however, 
and one that he will feel justified in attempting only 
when the game depends upon the put-out. 

THE INFIELD. 

The first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, 
and short-stop comprise what is known as " the in- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 41 

field," and their relative importance as fielding factors 
may be seen in the fact that the majority of the put- 
outs and assists in a game are made by them. To the 
uninitiated the long, high flies to the outfield seem to 
be the most difficult and attractive plays, but to the 
" crank " the real beauties of the game are oftenest 
seen in the dashing stops and lightning throws of 
the infielders' work. Four lively, active players, 
thoroughly accustomed to one another's work, will ac- 
complish plays at times which illustrate the acme of 
physical skill and quickness of thought. There is no 
other athletic game that affords such opportunities for 
this display as baseball, and in no part of the field is 
it so often seen as among these four positions. Some 
of the plays look almost too quick for thought and 
seem to come by instinct. As a matter of fact such 
proficiency comes, of course, from long and steady 
practice. Professional players really do too much of 
this. They spend hours every day practicing fielding, 
to the exclusion of other essential work. But to the 
younger players it is a necessary preparation. Field- 
ing practice should be taken methodically. Each in- 
fielder takes his regular position and then, with an 
extra man to bat the ball around, all conceivable plays 
are executed which are ever likely to occur in a game. 

THE FIRST BASEMAN. 

In actual play nowadays, the first baseman not only 
catches thrown balls, but fields ground-hits as well, 
even if he has to go far to his right. In such cases 
the pitcher covers the base and the ball is tossed to 
him for the put-out. I say 'Hossed" because in the 
great majority of such plays that is the proper way to 
deliver him the ball. The pitcher is running for the 
base and a throve then is extremely hard to handle ; 
whereas a ball tossed just far enough ahead of him so 
that he can catch it and continue running, saves time 
and is a much safer play. With a runner on first and 



42 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

none or only one out, a ball hit toward right-field and 
intercepted by the first baseman should generally be 
thrown to second. It breaks up the attempt of the 
opposing team to sacrifice. 

With a runner on third, none or only one out, the 
batter having struck three times and the catcher 
missed the third strike, the first baseman should meet 
the catcher's throw on the base-line ten or twenty feet 
toward the plate, so that if the man on third starts 
home he can return the throw in time to head him off. 
In such a play it may be even necessary for the first 
baseman to ignore the runner to first. It is better to 
catch the runner going home even if the other reaches 
first, than, by trying to get both, allow the runner 
from third to score. 

These plays only are mentioned because they are 
the ones often overlooked. The first baseman must 
be a sure catch on thrown balls and expert at "pick- 
ing up" low throws which strike the ground just 
before reaching him. Ordinarily with one foot on the 
base he leans well into the diamond to receive the 
ball, for the least fraction of time gained may decide 
the play. But sometimes, when the throw is wild, he 
has to shift his feet so that for a throw to his right he 
touches the base with his left foot, and vice versa. 
The play in this position is full of possibilities as some 
of the league basemen have shown. 

THE SECOND BASEMAN. 

Second base is perhaps the most satisfactory posi- 
tion to play on the entire infield. There is a great 
deal of territory to cover and it offers more opportuni- 
ties for brilliant work. It also requires the exercise 
of considerable judgment, for, as a rule, it is the sec- 
ond baseman who gives the signals for the various 
plays to be made when the bases are occupied by 
runners. He privately signals the catcher for a short 
or long throw when first and third are occupied and 



1 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 43 



determines whether himself or the short-stop shall 
receive the throw. He is generally governed in this 
by his judgment of the batter or of his intentions. If 
he thinks the batter is going to try to hit toward 
right field, he may ask the short-stop to cover the 
base in case of a throw, and if the man on third is one 
likely to chance a run home on the throw down, he 
makes a feint, as the ball is thrown, of moving in 
close for a short throw. And if he sees the runner 
actually going in he intercepts the throw if possible 
and returns it to the plate. When there is a runner 
on first and the ball is hit toward him, he has to decide 
upon his play while the ball is coming. If none or 
only one is out he tries for a double, either by throw- 
ing the ball to the short-stop at second, forcing out 
one man, and depending on the latter to get it to first 
ahead of the other ; or he meets the ball on the base- 
line, touches the runner, and himself throws to first. 
If the runner is clever in the last play, he may stop 
running to avoid being touched and run back toward 
first. The only way, then, to get the double is to 
chase the first runner as far toward first as time will 
permit, keeping one eye on the runner who hit the 
ball, throw to first just before the latter reaches there, 
and then let the first baseman and short-stop catch 
the other runner between first and second. 

In trying for the double by passing the ball first to 
the short-stop too much haste may lose both men. If 
near enough, the ball should be tossed or pitched 
underhand, which will make it much easier to handle 
and the play will be surer. It is always well to make 
certain of one man at least. 

In touching a runner from first on a throw from the 
catcher, he may stand just inside the line or outside 
or squarely on it and, if the throw permits, three or 
four feet from the base. Whether he shall be before, 
back of, or on the line depends upon the runner. If 
the latter slides feet first and directly at the base he 



44 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE, 

may be inside ; and if the runner goes in head first 
and slides back of the line he may be on it or back of 
it. This he determines beforehand in each instance 
from his previous knowledge of the opposing players. 
In making double plays where the ball has been 
thrown to him, covering the base, the runner from 
first usually tries to balk his throw to first. It is a 
good plan to pay no attention whatever to the runner 
coming but throw as though he were not there. There 
is very slight chance of the throw hitting the runner, 
unfortunately so, for at times there would be some 
satisfaction if it did. 

A second baseman, as well as other infielders, should 
meet every hit and not wait for it to come to him. 
Then, in case of a slight fumble or bad bound, there 
may still be time to make the play. 

In running for short flies which may fall safely be- 
tween himself and an outfielder one or the other must 
call for the ball as soon as he is able to determine that 
he can get it and the other immediately calls back " go 
ahead." The man who first calls must be given entire 
right of way and the answering call assures him that the 
way is clear. Each call should be loud and given several 
times. Thus both may run at full speed, looking only 
at the ball, and yet understand one another perfectly. 
And while on the subject it may be well to say that 
this plan applies among all the fielders, in and out. 
In these cases it is not a question of who should, but 
who can get the hit and this no one can tell so well 
as the men who are after it. An experienced fielder 
can tell almost to a certainty, in time to call, whether 
he is going to reach the hit and, even though he knows 
the catch will be diflicult, it is his duty to call for it 
if some one else has not already done so. Where he 
realizes that the catch will be hard, he must not call 
too soon, before some other player, to whom the play 
is easier, has had a chance to call ; but if, after a 
reasonable time, no other man has called, he must 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 45 

assume that no one else believes he can reach it and 
then if there is any chance for himself, he must not 
let the ball drop without a hard try. No other player 
or captain, no one except the men running for the 
ball, on these close plays, should attempt to designate 
the player who is to take it. A strict observance of 
this simple rule would reduce the chance of collisions 
between fielders to a minimum, and avoid those stupid 
plays, too often seen, where two fielders allow a ball to 
drop untouched between them which one or either 
might have caught. 

With the development, during the last two or three 
years, of " place hitting," it often becomes advisable 
for the second baseman to play for the batter alone 
and, with a runner on first or second, leave it to the 
short-stop to guard the base, or take any throw there. 

The understanding on this point between the two 
men is reached by private signal usually given so that 
the catcher also may see it and know which man is to 
take the throw. If anything occurs to expose to the 
other side which player is covering the base, it may 
be advisable to change. This being a play in which 
each side is trying to outwit the other, the baseman 
and short-stop often resort to feints purposely intended 
to mislead the batter, and on the other hand, the bat- 
ter, too, will often pretend to be trying to hit in one 
direction when his real intention is to hit in the other. 

The catcher should also have a signal arranged with 
the second baseman and short-stop as well as with first 
and third to catch an unwary runner taking too much 
lead off the base. The fielder times his start for the 
base so as to meet the throw at the base. If he should 
start too soon the warning cry of the coach er informs 
the runner. Therefore he pretends to be paying no 
attention to the latter until the ball is actually on the 
way from the pitcher to the catcher and then, when 
the eyes of the coachers and runner are all on the 
ball, he makes his run for the base. The pitcher too 



46 THE VICTOR BASEBALL. GUIDE. 

has seen the signal given by the catcher and pitches 
the ball away from the batter so that it cannot be hit 
and so that the catcher can handle it freely. This is 
an important part of the play because if the ball is 
pitched within the batter's reach he may hit through 
the very position left open. 

THE SHORT-STOP. 

Much that has been said of the second baseman ap- 
plies equally to the short-stop. The position requires 
an exceptionally active player, who can start and stop 
quickly, and a strong thrower. From the distance 
back of the line where most first-class men now play 
the position, the throw to first is the longest on the 
infield, especially on hits to the fielder's right. It is 
best to throw as quickly as possible after getting 
steadied, for that gives the baseman a chance to 
leave his base for a wide throw and yet retouch it 
in time to make the put-out. Placing the pitcher far- 
ther from the batter has made more hitting toward 
short and third and materially increased the impor- 
tance and responsibility of those positions. 

It is now also become a part of the short-stop's work 
to help look after second base and he is no longer the 
foot-free rover he used to be. However, he still goes 
well into the outfield when occasion requires and on 
long hits to left or center, where two throws are nec- 
essary, he is the one to help the return. He is also 
expected to back up second and third bases on throws 
from the outfield and, unless his presence is required 
at second, he may make himself generally useful in 
whatever way seems best. The proper place for the 
short-stop to play must be governed always, as with 
all other fielders, by the particular circumstances. If 
there are no runners on the bases, regard for the bat- 
ter alone will determine, but if there are runners, this 
fact, and the situation of the game, must be taken into 
consideration. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 47 

When there are runners on first and third the short- 
stop and second baseman have to face a difficult situ- 
ation, especially if the runners are clever. If the 
runner on first is one who will try to steal, the pitcher 
and catcher are also expected to assist and there must 
be a perfect understanding all around. The throw 
from the catcher may be either short, so that the base- 
man or short-stop meets it and is ready to return it to 
the plate in time to catch the runner from third, or, 
there may be a feint to throw to second and then a 
quick throw to third ; or, if the one run does not seri- 
ously affect the result, the effort may be simply to 
catch the runner going to second, ignoring entirely 
the one at third. 

Even with no runners on bases it may be necessary 
for the second baseman and short-stop to have an un- 
derstanding who is to cover the base. Sometimes it 
is a question which depends for determination upon 
the direction of the hit and in these cases it is decided 
by prior agreement. As, for instance, on a hit to left 
field, upon which the batter may try to reach second, 
instead of the short-stop going over behind the base- 
man, it is obviously easier for him to take the base, 
allowing the baseman to drop back and back up the 
throw. So that there should be a general agreement 
that on all hits to left field this arrangement should 
prevail. 

With a runner on first and a base-hit made to right 
field, the runner usually tries to reach third while the 
one who hit the ball keeps on to second on the throw 
to third to catch the first man. Now as the attempt 
to catch the runner at third does not succeed one time 
in ten, it is often a good play for the short-stop, in- 
stead of going to back up the base, to intercept the 
throw and return the ball to second in time to put out 
the runner who hit the ball. This same kind of a play 
is made by the pitcher and should have been men- 
tioned when speaking of that position. With a runner 



48 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

on second and a base-hit made, the usual play has 
been a wild and generally futile attempt to catch the 
runner at the home-plate, while the batter goes on 
down unmolested to second base. But if on the throw 
from the outfield the pitcher will get himself in line 
and intercept the ball, he has plenty of time to catch 
the batter trying for second. Of course, if the catcher 
sees that the throw to the plate is really going to catch 
the runner there, he calls to the pitcher to let the ball 
come on. 

With all signals given by the catcher to the differ- 
ent infielders the short-stop must be perfectly familiar 
in order that he may be prepared to do his part. If 
there is to be a throw to second or third he should 
know it, so that he can be ready to back up in case 
the throw is wide or the ball breaks through the base- 
man's hands. So, too, he must know when to expect 
a throw if he himself be covering second. 

In all cases where a runner is caught between bases, 
the short-stop must take part. If the play is between 
first and second or between second and third, he and 
the second baseman alternate in backing one another 
up on one side of the runner, while the other baseman 
and the pitcher do the same on the other side. If it 
is between third and home, he and the third baseman 
attend to one side, while the catcher and pitcher look 
after the other. In every case the base runner should 
be run down as quickly as possible, and always toward 
the base farthest from the home-plate, so that if an 
error is made the runner will gain no advantage. 

THE THIRD BASEMAN. 

With the change in the rules that placed the pitcher 
farther from the batter and gave the latter more time 
to judge the ball, the position of the third baseman 
became the most difficult on the infield. There are 
fewer first-class third basemen than fielders in any of 
the other positions. On account of the chance that the 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 49 

batter may bunt^ he must play pretty close so that a 
hard hit is on him before he has time to judge it, yet his 
throw is so long that if he fumbles at all, he seldom 
has time to recover and get his man. A hit, especially 
by a left-hand batter, comes at him with a curve and 
it requires skill and courage to successfully face some 
of the drives that are swung around that direction. 

The third baseman should try for all the slow hits 
toward the short-stop, for as a rule he is the only one 
who can make the assist on such hits. It is not 
intended that he shall run in front of the short-stop 
and make a hard play for himself out of one that 
would have been easy for the former, but a little prac- 
tice will soon show what hits are meant. It is a good 
rule, in this regard, for the third baseman never to 
interfere with a ball that he can reach only with his 
left hand, unless it is a hard hit. On any other kind, 
he may safely infer that the short-stop is in front of 
the ball and in better shape than himself to make the 
assist. The third baseman, of course, has perfectly 
understood signals with the catcher so that he may 
always know when to expect a throw to catch an un- 
wary or too venturesome runner. Those are matters 
which have been thoroughly discussed and practiced 
beforehand until there is not the slightest chance of 
mistake. And the short-stop too must know these 
signs so that he may be ready to back up in case the 
throw breaks through. the baseman's hands. 

THE OUTFIELD. 

If fielding were the only consideration, the man who 
was the surest catch, who could run the fastest and 
throw the longest, would be the best man for an out- 
field position ; but other points enter into the question. 
A team, to win, must have hitters as well as fielders, 
and it is therefore usual to fill up the outfield with 
good batters, even at the expense of a slight weakness 
in fielding. 



50 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Considered simply as a fielder, the outfielder should 
have good judgment of a ball hit in the air. The mo- 
ment the hit is made he must be able to tell its direc- 
tion and locate the place where it is going to fall. The 
best fielders acquire remarkable skill in this respect 
and are able to decide these things at a glance. The 
fielder who is obliged to keep his eye on the ball all the 
time it is in the air will not cover nearly so much ground 
as the one who is able to put down his head and run 
until near the ball or near where he thinks it will fall. 
Particularly is this true of a fiy hit over the fielder's 
head. The player who attempts to run backwards or 
sideways for the ball, or who turns his back to the ball 
but keeps his head twisted around so as to see it, will 
not begin to get the hits that a man will who is able 
to locate the hit exactly and then turn and run until 
he has reached the spot where the ball is going to fall. 
If the eyesight is good any fielder can learn to do this. 

In fielding balls hit along the ground, the fielder 
should not wait until the ball comes to him, but run 
in to meet it as quickly as possible. Then, if fum- 
bled, he may still have time to get it back to the in- 
field before base runners can take an extra base. 

The instant an outfielder gets a ball in his hands 
he should throw it to some point in the infield. The 
habit of holding a ball is not only dangerous but ex- 
tremely stupid. If the bases are clear and a single- 
base hit is made the ball should be sent at once to 
second base. If there is a runner on first it should be 
thrown to third base, because if sent to second a bold 
runner will sometimes keep right on to third. If there 
is a runner on second when the hit is made and the 
left-fielder secures the ball quickly, he should throw 
it to third, because most runners will overrun that base 
in order to draw the throw to the home-plate, and a 
quick throw to the base v/ill occasionally catch them 
before they can return. 

The outfielders should ahvays back up a hit or throw 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 51 

to the infield and, in the case of hits, not wait until the 
ball has actually passed by or through the infielder, 
but start in the instant the ball is hit. More impor- 
tant still,even, they must back up one another, for a hit 
which gets through an outfielder with no one to back 
him up is particularly disastrous. On the other hand 
it gives a fielder so much greater confidence to go in 
quickly to meet a hit if he knows there is some one 
behind him. 

Where a long hit has been made between or over 
the heads of the fielders, two throws will generally 
place the ball at a given point quicker and more ac- 
curately than one long throw ; so that it is best to line 
the ball in depending on the short-stop or other in- 
fielder, who has come out to meet the throw, to assist 
in the return. 

The plan of one player '* calling " for a ball for which 
several are running, applies particularly to outfielders. 
There are so many hits for which they must run at full 
speed that without some such plan there are sure to be 
collisions. No one man on the field can always cor- 
rectly designate the proper player for each hit and 
where thousands of spectators perhaps are shouting 
he could not make himself heard. It is much safer 
therefore to allow the players themselves to call. 



52 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

CHAPTER V. 

Base-Running. 

The most intellectual as well as the most interesting 
department of play is base-running. It requires the 
most skill, it calls into play the quickest and keenest 
perception and soundest judgment, it demands agility 
as well as speed, and is the field for the display of 
daring, courage, and enthusiasm. Its importance as a 
factor in winning games can scarcely be estimated. 
We only know that a team of base-runners wins game 
aftergame in which it is out-batted and out-fielded by 
its opponents. No system of scoring has been or can 
be devised by which a full record of this kind of work 
can be kept. The system now in vogue, crediting 
the number of bases stolen, is all right so far as it 
goes, but it covers only a small part of the ground. 
Stealing bases is a part of base-running, but it is a 
very small part, and to say that the player who steals 
the most bases is therefore the best base-runner, is an 
altogether unwarranted statement. A quick starter, 
speedy runner, and clever slider might easily steal the 
most bases, and yet in general usefulness fall far be- 
hind some other player. 

Beginning with the more mechanical features, the 
first qualification for a base-runner is the ability to 
start quickly. The distances on a ball field have been 
laid out with such marvelous nicety that every fraction 
of a second is valuable. Almost every play is close, 
and the loss of an instant of time is often the loss of 
the opportunity. 

But to start quickly means more than a quick action 
of the muscles ; it means-also that the brain and body 
must act together. The base-runner who must wait 
to be told what to do will always be too late. By the 
time the coacher has seen the point and called to 
the runner and the latter has gotten himself into 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 53 

action, the chance has long passed. The player must 
be able to see the play himself and act upon it in- 
stantly, without waiting to be told. 

Different runners adopt different methods for get- 
ting a long start from a base. Some take as much 
ground as possible before the pitch. Others stand 
near the base and when they think it about time for 
the pitcher to pitch, make a start. If they have 
guessed aright, they get a running start. If not, the 
pitcher is taken by surprise and it is generally possi- 
ble to return to the base before he can throw. The 
latter is the method to be preferred, because the run- 
ner does not tire himself out by running up and down 
the line. He stands quietly and apparently carelessly 
near the base until he thinks the time has come to 
start. 

Unlike a sprinter, a base-runner must be ready to 
start either direction and so he cannot '' set " like a 
sprinter, but should stand well up with the feet not 
too wide apart. 

Mere speed will not make a base-runner, in the full 
sense of the term, yet, other things being equal, the 
faster runner will be the better base-runner. Straight 
away running is something to which ball players do 
not devote sufficient attention. While to a certain ex- 
tent, it is a natural gift, yet every man can improve 
himself greatly by practice, and, if the spring training 
of players included more of this work, the result would 
certainly be an improvement in the base-running. Not- 
withstanding the importance of starting and running 
and sliding, there is absolutely no attention given 
these matters, and, consequently, the majority of play- 
ers seem to be entirely ignorant of the proper " form." 
It would be a good investment for some clubs to em- 
ploy a professional sprinter to teach their men how to 
stand, in order to start quickly, and how to put one 
foot in front of the other in the approved form. 

An important aid also to successful base-running is 



54 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE* 

the knack of sliding well. A player skillful in this 
respect will often save himself when he seems caught 
beyond escape. Every runner must know how to slide 
if he expects to accomplish anything at all, and every 
man will slide who feels the proper interest in his work. 
Some players do not do so because they have never 
learned and are afraid to try, yet a half -hour's practice 
on sawdust or soft earth will show that it is easily 
learned. 

The old style of sliding was with the feet foremost, 
but there are now various methods employed, the idea 
being, any way to get there without being touched. 
Many runners slide head foremost or on the side and go 
directly at the base or throw the body outside or inside 
the line, away from the fielder, and reach for the base 
with hand or foot. An expert runner confines himself 
to no particular style, but, being familiar with all, uses 
in each instance the one best suited. Sometimes one 
style is best and sometimes another, depending upon 
where the ball is thrown and the position of the base- 
man. 

Though stealing bases is only a part of base-run- 
ning, yet even this requires considerable skill, and it is 
by no means always the fastest runner who succeeds 
the oftenest. Much depends on the start, and much, 
too, on the slide. 

Having gotten his start, the runner must look 
neither to the right nor left but straight ahead. If the 
ball is hit he depends upon his coachers to warn him of 
a fly catch, and if the ball is thrown he judges by 
the movements and looks of the baseman as to where 
the ball is. Watching the actions and expression on the 
fielder's face he can tell precisely what to do. And 
running this way, he will reach the base at least ten 
feet faster than if he attempts to run with his head 
twisted around to watch the ball. 

There is an advantage in sliding head foremost, in 
that the runner, by falling forward, gains the length 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 55 

of his body and the reach of his arm, whereas, in 
sliding feet foremost, he loses this. But if one always 
goes in head foremost, the baseman, knowing what to 
expect and standing in no fear of injury, will block 
the base-line. It seems necessary to occasionally 
throw the spikes in first in order to retain one's right 
to the line and command a proper respect from op- 
posing basemen. 

In order that the runner may not be continually 
cut and bruised by gravel or rough ground he should 
protect his hips and knees by pads. Some have the 
padding stitched to the inside of the pants, and for 
the knees this is the better plan, though it interferes 
somewhat with the washing of the uniform. But for 
the hips I prefer the separate pads, which may be 
bought at any store for the sale of baseball goods. 
The best make is buttoned to a "jockey strap" which 
binds tightly the lower portion of the body, and this 
latter feature is itself of great advantage ; not only 
as a matter of comfort and safety, but also for the 
sake of decency, every player should wear one of 
these straps, the same as athletes do in other branches 
of sport. 

But, after all, the important factors in successful 
base-running are yet to be spoken of, and the fore- 
going points are merely mechanical aids. There is no 
other department of j^lay in which intelligence plays 
so important a part, and no matter how clever the 
player as a starter, runner, or slider, these faculties 
will be of little value unless directed by a quick per- 
ception and sound judgment. Indeed, they will often 
serve only to lead him into difficulty. 

By its very nature a quick perception is an inborn 
faculty of the mind, and while it may be developed by 
constant use, no amount of coaching can create it. 
The power of grasping a situation and acting upon it 
at once is something which cannot be taught. 

In order, however, to know when a fair opportunity 



56 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

presents itself, the runner must be familiar with the 
chances of play, and this comes only from experience 
and close observation. A runner who is thoroughly 
alive to all the possibilities of the game will see a 
chance and gain a point where another of less ready 
perception would find no opening. The former has 
learned to marshal at a glance all the attendant prob- 
abilities and possibilities and to estimate, in the same 
instant, the chances of success or failure. 

It is not, however, always best to accept an oppor- 
tunity when presented, even where the chances of 
success are largely in the runner's favor. The stages 
of the game must be taken into consideration, and 
what may be a perfectly commendable play in one sit- 
uation may be altogether reckless and foolhardy in 
another. Therefore, the most important faculty of all 
\^ judgment. An illustration may make this meaning 
clear. In the ninth inning, with a runner on first base 
and the score a tie, it may be a good play for the run- 
ner to attempt to steal second, because from there a sin- 
gle hit can send him home. But suppose that, instead 
of the score being a tie, the side at bat is four or five 
runs behind, of what possible use will the steal be now, 
even if successful ? One run will do no good, and the 
only chance of victory is in the following batters also 
getting around the bases. Yet the hits or errors by which 
this must be accomplished would also send the first run- 
ner home without a steal, so that in attempting to 
steal he takes a chance which is of no advantage if 
successful, and perhaps a fatal mistake if not. 

Again, suppose there is a runner on third and none 
out and the batter hits a short fly to the outfield, on 
the catch of which it is doubtful whether the runner 
can score. If the next batter is a good hitter, he will 
not make the attempt, trusting to the next hit for a 
better chance. But if the next batter is weak and 
not likely to offer as good a chance, he may decide to 
try for the run on the small chance already presented. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 57 

These examples might be multiplied indefinitely be- 
cause the same problem will always present itself in a 
more or less imperative form, every time the runner 
has a play to make. The question he must always 
decide is, *'Is this the best play, everything consid- 
ered ? " and because there are so many things to be 
considered and the time allowed him is often only the 
fraction of a second, base-running must always be one 
of the game's chief beauties to those who delight in 
mental as well as muscular activity. The subject of 
base-running is too large to cover in detail here. It 
is only possible, in conclusion, to offer a few sug- 
gestions : — 

Run out every hit. Never " loaf " on the bases. A 
slow hit to the infield will then often be turned into 
a base hit and a single hit into a double. Besides, it 
hurries the fielders and they are twice as apt to make 
errors. 

Always slide on a close play, except at first, and 
even there it may sometimes prove an advantage. 

When the opposing catcher is a poor thrower or the 
pitcher slow in his movements, don't wait to be batted 
around. Keep running at every opportunity. It will 
eventually demoralize the other side. 

Have a perfectly understood set of signals with the 
two batters who precede you on the batting list and 
the two who follow, so that whether you are on bases 
or at bat you may always be able to communicate to 
them your own intentions or learn theirs without ex- 
posing your plans to your opponents. If you are on 
first or second and intend to try a steal, the batter 
ought to know it, because he may be able materially 
to aid you. So also should a succeeding runner on 
first know when you intend to steal third so that he 
too may start at the same time. Then if you succeed 
it will be a double steal and if you fail, he at least will 
have reached second. It is not possible to catch you 
both. 



58 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

The proper time to try for a steal of third is when 
there is one out. Then a sacrifice or long fly will score 
the run. With none out it is too risky and with two 
out there is nothing to be gained. Two quick-witted 
runners on the bases together can work up many little 
schemes that will confuse and rattle the other side. 

There are fewer attempts at naked steals now than 
formerly. The accepted play among the leading league 
teams is to hit and run at the same time. This of course 
necessitates a perfect understanding between batter 
and runner. In a close game and especially if the hit- 
ting is light it is good policy to take all chances on the 
bases. But if there is much hitting or the game is 
very one-sided, it is safer to depend upon the batting. 

Without particularizing further, it will be seen that 
a base-runner must not only have some wits but he 
must have them always with him. Exactly the same 
combinations never come up, new ones are continually 
being presented, and in every case he must decide for 
himself what is best. In view of all the circumstances, 
he makes a quick mental estimate of the chances and 
acts accordingly, and his success in the end will de- 
pend principally upon the speed and accuracy of his 
judgment. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 59 



ON THE NEED OF REVISION OF 
THE PLAYING RULES. 



The playing rules of the National League have been 
gathering errors and obscurities from year to year to 
such an extent that a revision of them has, for a long 
time, been necessary. One general defect in them is 
their failure to describe the game as it is actually 
played ; in the Rules of 1895, for example, the reader 
finds that the base-runner is permitted a safe return to a 
base on a Foul Tip, yet nearly every one familiar with 
the game knows that a Foul Tip is also a Strike and that, 
in practice, a base-runner may be caught off a base and 
be put out on it ; Illegal Delivery is a familiar term, still 
the Rules do not define it although prescribing a penalty 
for one ; for some years now, a pitched ball which 
strikes the batsman's bat has been regarded as a bat- 
ted ball and in play, whether the batsman intended to 
hit the ball or not, and yet the Rules of 1895 contain 
no mention of this fact. Last year's code includes no 
reference to the manner in which a base-runner may be 
put out for failing to return and touch a base after a 
Foul Hit which is not caught; and probably nearly every 
one knows that the Umpire alone determines whether 
the conditions after rain are suitable for resuming 
play, and yet the Rules contain no statement to this 
effect, — they simply say that he may terminate the 
game after it has rained half an hour. 

Without selecting more of these numerous examples 
of contradiction between the rules and practice or the 
omission of necessary authorities, a second general de- 
fect in the rules is obscurity of expression. Rules 
38 and 39 (definition of Fair Hit and Foul Hit) are 
probably unequaled in this respect by any others, al- 
though Rule 45, Sec. 1 (not batting in turn) follows 
it closely and is still obscure and incorrect, in spite of 



60 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

an attempt made last year to improve it, and probably 
not one player in fifty thoroughly understands it in 
all its applications. The defects in the old Rules are 
too varied and numerous to classify or mention here, 
but a large number of them have been pointed out and 
considered at some length in the comments after 
many of the revised Rules which follow. 

A rule should be written in such clear, unmistak- 
able language that it means one thing and one thing 
only, and cannot fairly be made to mean anything 
else, even when violently twisted or interpreted. 
And it must be rather generally understood that the 
old Rules by no means fulfill this requirement. Nor is 
it desirable, as in the past, that the authorities should 
exist, partly in book-form, and partly in the minds of 
Umpires and the general public, handed down and dis- 
seminated by word of mouth as though written or 
printed expression belonged to a lost art. The decis- 
ions on " trapped " balls, for example, were once as 
numerous as the Umpires; the decisions on what con- 
stitutes an Infield-hit were as many and often 
unique; and all decisions last year, as already indi- 
cated, on pitched balls accidentally hitting the bats- 
man's bat, or as to what constituted an Illegal Deliv- 
ery, or in case of a base-runner put out for failing to re- 
touch a base on a Foul Hit which was not caught, were 
based simply on the Umpire's ideas in the case and not 
on any printed Rules. It must be evident that the 
Rules should contain provision adequate for every 
known case, and that they should be so expressed as 
to mean the same thing to every intelligent umpire or 
reader, without the necessity of his being told what 
they mean by occasional bulletins. 

A large proportion of the wrangles and discussions 
on the playing field arise from cases of interpretation 
of the Rules; the need of interpretation should be very 
rare, but at present the instances are both genuine 
and many. The ideal conditions would be those 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 61 

where every decision were as obvious as that on a Fly- 
ball caught in open field, where there is almost never 
a call for the exercise of judgment or discretion by 
the Umpire. While there must always remain ques- 
tions of fact — as to whether a player is actually 
touched, arrives at a base before or at the same time 
as the ball, etc. — to be decided by the Umpire's judg- 
ment, it should be the aim of rule-makers and revisers 
to reduce to a minimum the call for the Umpire's dis- 
cretion; to provide for all actual and conceivable cases 
in the Rules, and that too in such clear and positive 
language that, as in the case of the caught Fly-ball, the 
Umpire would appear simply as an announcer of a 
decision which would be too obvious and clearly 
revealed in the Rules to warrant an appeal or discus- 
sion. It is hardly necessary to say that this cannot 
be expected, but it should be the aim nevertheless to 
leave as little as possible to the Umpire's discretion, 
not because the latter is not generally of a high order, 
but because captains, players, and spectators as yet 
defer to it with such poor grace, — to use a mild ex- 
pression. This source of protest and dispute should 
be removed as far as possible, and carelessly worded, 
incomplete, and inadequate Rules should not be allowed 
to exist or be manufactured in any further number, 
with the apparent expectation that all shortcomings 
will be made good by " the discretion of the Umpire." 
The Rules should be explicit and well-nigh inflexible 
in all cases; the modification of a Rule to suit this or 
that case by one Umpire and another results in a 
tangled and shifting morass of authorities. 

There are doubtless a number of other perfectly 
satisfactory methods of laying out the Ground, but the 
old Rules on this topic have been retained, although 
they have been made the subject of considerable criti- 
cism and merriment; but their degree of complexity 
is not enough to tax the powers of the average person 
and they have the merit of accuracy, which is certainly 



62 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

not to be discouraged, especially when it is carried to 
the fifth place of decimals. But, as this precision 
ceases somewhat abruptly within a few pages, there 
must, however, remain a certain regret that it was 
not more evenly spread over the whole code, or at 
least in the spots where the need was more urgent. 

As the game is being adopted in countries other 
than this, there is additional reason why the Rules 
should be both intelligible and complete when exported. 
With a view to demonstrating just how defective the 
Rules really are (for we here are too familiar with 
the actual game to fully appreciate all their short- 
comings), it would be an interesting and perhaps in- 
structive experiment to put the Rules of 1895 in the 
the hands of a number of intelligent foreigners un- 
familiar with the game, and, after the lapse of some 
weeks, observe the game played with that code as the 
source of information and guide. The procedure, in 
many cases, and through no fault of the foreigners, 
could scarcely fail to be strangely unfamiliar, — but 
still legal "as required by these Rules." 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 63 



CHANGES IN THE PLAYING-RULES 
FOR 1896. 



Since the completion of the full revision of the 
Rules of 1895 which appears in this book, a few 
changes for the code of 1896 have been adopted by 
the League and are considered in detail below. 

The sentence forbidding intentional discoloration of 
the ball has been restored, at the end of Sec. 2, Rule 
14. And, at the end of Sec. 3 of the same Rule, a new 
requirement calls for at least twelve balls ready for 
use. 

In the alteration of the close of Rule 20, there appears 
a somewhat tardy recognition of the fact that 
coachers, although not " in active play," are still not 
required to sit on the bench. The reference to the 
batsman as " called to the bat by the Umpire" im- 
plies a useless formality and one which is, and will be, 
seldom observed. Furthermore the batsman, without 
specific mention, may fairly claim to be one of those 
" engaged in active play," as the Rule read last year. 
The amendment also reaffirms the manager's existing 
right to sit on the bench, and, for the first time, specif- 
ically mentions the president of the club as also 
entitled to the privilege. 

In Rule 29, referring to the Pitcher's position, the 
sentence — " He shall hold the ball before delivery, 
fairly in front of his body and in sight of the Umpire" 
— has been omitted. While it is not necessary that 
the Umpire should see the ball, and there is no reason 
why the Pitcher should not completely cover it with 
his hands, it would seem advisable to continue to com- 
pel the Pitcher to hold the ball in front of him ; 
otherwise opportunity is given him to hold it back of 
him, twisting his body around and making a semblance 
of conforming to the first part of the Rule with 



64 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

reference to " facing the batsman/' by simply looking 
toward him, — thus confusing the batsman to a certain 
extent. The batting is none too strong, even with 
continued framing of rules to improve it ; and nothing 
should be done tending to lessen it in any degree. 

In Rule 30, an unsuccessful attempt has been made 
"to give the Pitcher the corners," of the Home-base, 
— the intent probably being to declare a ball partly off 
the corner of the Base a Strike. But the revised Rule 
means exactly the same as that of last year. The 
new Rule contains the clause, — " the ball so delivered 
to pass over any part of the Home-base "—the 
italicized words being new. Inasmuch as the ball is 
less than three inches in diameter and the diagonal of 
the Home-base about seventeen, it is evident that a 
Strike, even under former Rules, referred to balls 
which passed over " any part " of. the Home-base, as 
the ball could not pass over the whole of it at once. 
The rule-makers, however, probably wished to include 
as a Strike instances where a part of the Base at a 
corner, less in width than the diameter of the ball, is 
traversed by the ball. But this is an example not of 
the ball, but 2, part of the bally passing over the Base ; 
and the revisers should have referred to " any part of 
the ball," not to ^' any part of the Home-base." For the 
word "ball" in the now Rule, being unqualified, must 
certainly be held to mean a lohole ball ; and, if a 
(whole) ball passes over the Home-base, at the proper 
height, this is simply the old, familiar instance of a 
Strike. 

But assuming that this Rule (as with various others 
in the past) is held to mean not what it says but what 
some one says it means, the advisability of practically 
extending the width of the Home-base almost three 
inches, at each of two opposite corners, is extremely 
doubtful ; the Pitcher would have, instead of a space 
seventeen inches wide, one about six inches wider to 
pitch over, — an increase of about one-third. Inas- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 65 

much as the Pitcher, although at a temporary dis- 
advantage when set back to sixty and one-half feet 
some three years ago, has been steadily regaining the 
mastery of the batsman, and has now quite as much 
power as it is desirable to see, it is not wise to widen 
the Home-base one-third for his benefit. There is 
certainly no need for any further advantage for the 
Pitcher in the present adjustment between him and 
the batsman. 

Rule 31 has also been altered in the same manner 
as Rule 30, and without affecting the meaning. 

In Rule 32, Sec. 2 has been renumbered 4 and a 
new Sec. 2 has been inserted as follows, — " A Balk 
shall be any delivery of the ball to the bat by the 
pitcher while his (pivot) foot is not in contact with 
the pitcher's plate, as defined in Rule 29." The es- 
sential feature of a Balk, both by definition and com- 
mon understanding of the term, has always been a 
failure to deliver Xh^ ball ; while the new Rule declares 
an actual delivery of the ball to be a Balk. There is 
no good reason for this change ; and this is probably 
an attempt to define an Illegal Delivery. There is 
certainly need of a definition, for there was none in 
the Rules of 1895, although both the Rules of 1895 and 
those of 1896 refer to an " Illegal Delivery " in Rule 
46, Sec. 5, and in Rule 68. Since the batsman is the 
principal sufferer by the Pitcher's edging up toward 
the Home-base, he should benefit by the penalty im- 
posed on the Pitcher ; but the Rules certainly do not 
allow a batsman to take a base on a Balk. Failure to 
keep the foot on the Pitcher's Plate, therefore, during 
the delivery of the ball, should be termed an Illegal 
Delivery and not a Balk. Furthermore this is only 
one of many forms of an Illegal Delivery, which should 
be regarded (as the full revision in this book states) as 
a delivery of the ball "not in exact accordance with 
Rule 29." The rule-makers, therefore, have apparently 
attempted to define an Illegal Delivery but have 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIi:)E. 



covered only one instance of it and called it a Balk at 
that. 

Sec. 3 of Rule 32 is also a definition of an Illegal 
Delivery and not of a Balk, as the heading indicates. 

New Rule 59 contains but a single section and this 
calls for the removal from the field of a player for 
improper language or conduct ; and compels the 
Umpire to enforce this removal, in addition to a fine 
of $25. This is perhaps worth trying, although the 
accompanying fine would seem objectionable, tending 
to make the penalty as a whole so great that the 
Umpire may not impose it as often as one is needed. 
Removal itself is a disgrace to a player, and usually 
satisfying enough to an audience ; and the fine might 
well have been left optional and for use in extreme 
cases. 

Rule 60 has been divided into five sections contain- 
ing penalties for offenses formerly mentioned in old 
Rule 59, and something more. The range of discre- 
tionary fines for a first offense for failing to remain in 
the coacher's position or for any other violation of the 
Rules has been wisely reduced to $5 and $10 from 
the often prohibitive amounts, $25 and $100 ; for a 
second offense a fine of $25 is compulsory, with re- 
moval optional ; and, for a third offense, removal is 
compulsory, to be followed by compulsory removal 
of all subsequent offenders of the same club for first 
offenses, and without a fine. All this in connection 
with the removal of a player for a first offense in Rule 
59 is somewhat complicated and it is doubtful if the 
Umpire, or at any rate the spectators whose support 
depends on their seeing the situation as he does, can 
carry the distinctions clearly in mind and consistently 
apply the Rules. For, if there be several offenders 
who have committed offenses in different innings and 
have reached the different stages mentioned in Rule 
60, it might be difficult even for the Umpire, espe- 
cially when surrounded by a crowd of excited players, 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 67 

to know which had deserved a fine of $25 or which 
had reached the third degree and were ready for retire- 
ment. 

The final solution, however, of the question of dis- 
cipline* and the Umpire-problem is probably some 
years hence, when the spectators, or at least a large 
and effective majority of them, have brought them- 
selves to acquiesce in decisions as given, and have 
ceased to approve of, or encourage in any way, attacks 
on the Umpire. It is certain that players seldom go 
much further than spectators are accustomed to allow; 
and the Umpire also, perhaps unconsciously, is guided 
by his audience, with the result that the Rules as 
they read are one thing, and the application of them, 
at any given time and place, another. It is perhaps 
advisable, then, to frame rules just enough in advance 
of the average spectator-sentiment which manifests 
itself to have a leading, educational influence on the 
audience ; but not so far in advance as to be ineffect- 
ive and make a most glaring discrepancy between 
rule and practice, producing loss of respect for the 
regulations. In an attempt to meet most annoying 
evils, there has been in the past a tendency to exag- 
geration of penalties, or to the framing of rules suited 
to extreme cases only, with the result that a host of 
lesser offenses are unprovided for. Last year, for ex- 
ample, the Umpire and audience were not supposed to 
be conscious of an offense unless it were of a $25 
"caliber. It is to be hoped, however, that this year's 
changes will be as effective as they appear to be 
potent and inexorable. 



68 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



DIAGRAM OF A BALL FIELD 




THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



A REVISION 

OF THE 

Playing-Rules 

OF 

Professional Base-ball Clubs. 



The Ball-Ground. 

Rule 1. The Ground must be an enclosed field 
sufficient in size to enable each player to play his 
position as required by these Rules. 

Rule 2. To lay off the lines governing the posi- 
tions and play of the game known as base-ball, pro- 
ceed as follows: — 

From a point, A, within the ground, project a right 
line out into the field, and, at a point, B, 154 feet 
from point A, lay off lines BC and BD at right-angles 
to the line AB; then, with B as a center and a 
radius of 63.63945 feet, describe arcs cutting the 
lines BA at F, BC at G, BD at H, and BE at I. 
Draw lines FG, GI, IH, and HF, forming the contain- 
ing lines of the Diamond or Infield. 

The Foul Lines. 

Rule 3. The Foul Lines are shown as OG and MH. 
Continue the lines FG and FH from their point of in- 
tersection, F, not less than 128 feet toward O and M; 
also continue the lines FG and FH to the boundaries 
of the field. 

The Catcher's Lines. 

Rule 4. The Catcher's Lines are shown as OF, FM, 
and MO. With F as a center and a radius of 90 feet, 
draw an arc cutting FA at L, and through the latter 
draw a line at right-angles to FL, cutting the Foul 
Lines at O and M. 



70 the victor baseball guide. 

The Players' Lines. 

Rule 5. The Players' Lines are shown as QW and 
PT. With F as a center and a radius of 50 feet, 
describe arcs cutting FO and FM at points P 
and Q; then, with F as a center and a radius of 75 
feet, describe arcs, cutting lines FG and FH at R and 
S; then, from the points P, Q, R and S, draw lines at 
right-angles to FO, FM, FG, and FH, and continue 
them until they intersect at the points T and W. 

The Captain's and Coachers' Lines. 

Rule 6. The Captain's and Coachers' Lines are shown 
as WX, XJ, and TY, YZ. With R and S as centers 
and a radius of 15 feet, describe arcs, cutting lines 
RW and ST at X and Y; and, from the points X and Y, 
draw lines parallel to FG and FH, and continue them 
to the boundaries of the Ground. The coachers' terri- 
tory is included in the right-angles WXJ and TYZ. 

The Three-Foot Lines. 

Rule 7. The Three-foot Lines are shown as 2, 3 and 
1, G. With F as a center and a radius of 45 feet, 
describe an arc cutting FG at 1, and from 1 draw a 
line three feet long to 2, at right-angles to FG; from 
point 2, draw a line 48 feet long to point 3; from 
point 3, draw a line three feet long to line FG. 

The Pitcher's Plate. 

Rule 8. The Pitcher's Plate is shown as the rect- 
angle 5, 6, 7, 8. With the point F as a center and a 
radius of 60.5 feet, describe an arc cutting the line 
FB at the point 4, and draw a line 5, 6, through the 
point 4 and extending 12 inches on each side of the line 
FB; then, with the line 5, 6 as a side, construct a rect- 
angle 24 inches by 6 inches. 

The Bases. 
Rule 9. Within the angle F, describe a square, the 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 71 

sides of which shall be 12 inches, — two of its sides 
lying on the lines FG and FH — forming the position 
for the Home-base; within the angles G and H, de- 
scribe squares, the sides of which shall be 15 inches — 
two of the sides lying on FG and GI, and two on FH 
and HI respectively, — forming the positions for the 
the First Base and the Third Base ; and, at the point I, 
describe a square with 15-inch sides parallel to GI and 
IH, and its center at point I, forming the position for 
the Second Base. 

The Batsman's Lines. 

Rule 10. On each side of the line AFB, describe a 
rectangle (9 and 10 on the diagram), 6 feet long by 4 
feet wide, with its longer dimension parallel to AFB, 
situated 6 inches from the nearest corner of the Home- 
base, and bisected by a diagonal drawn through the 
Home-base. 

Rule 11. The Home-base at F, and the Pitcher's 
Plate at 4, must be of whitened rubber, and so fixed in 
the ground as to be even with the surface. 

Rule 12. The First Base at G, the Second Base at I, 
and the Third Base at H must be white-canvas bags, 
filled with soft material, and securely fastened in their 
positions as described in Rule 9. 

Rule 13. All lines described in Rules 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 
10 must be marked with lime, chalk, or other suitable 
material, so as to be seen distinctly by the Umpire. 

The Ball. 

Rule 14, Sec. 1. The ball* must weigh not less than 



*The ball quite commonly used by teams throughout the country is 
the Victor League Ball. It is made of the best material, and is up to 
size and weight, and standard in every particular. As it does not bear 
the signature, like the cut on page 3, of President Young of the 
National League of Base Ball Clubs it is not the official ball of the 
National League. No ball not having President Young's signature, as 
shown in cut, can be official. We make no pretenses to our ball being 
the official one, and will ask you to inspect carefully the seal of every 
ball offered you as official and see if it contains the President's signa- 
ture. If it does not, it is not official, and cannot be used in National 
League games. 



72 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

five nor more than five and one-quarter ounces avoir- 
dupois; and measure not less than nine nor more than 
nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. 

Sec. 2. At the beginning of each championship- 
game, two balls shall be furnished to the Umpire by 
the home-club for use. When the ball in play is 
batted to Foul Ground out of sight of the Umpire or 
over the fence, the other ball shall be immediately put 
in play. If one of the two balls be lost or not forth- 
coming when needed, a new one must be supplied to 
the Umpire by the home-club. During the game there 
must always be two balls for use; but a new ball shall 
not be introduced, if there are two balls previously in 
play ready and fit for use before the Umpire calls for a 
new one. The moment the Pitcher receives a ball 
from the Umpire and touches the Pitcher's Plate, the 
ball is in play, and shall not be changed until it passes 
out of sight or is lost in the manner described. 

(The old rule refers only to balls " batted to foul 
ground," and makes no provision for the case of balls 
disappearing over the fence on Fair Hits. Nor does it 
make clear the fact that balls already in play are to be 
used in preference to a new ball. It might be under- 
stood from the old rule that, " as often as one of the two 
in use " is lost, a new one must be introduced, even 
though the Umpire might have three or four balls 
which had been batted out of sight and returned. 

Moreover, the old rule read, "The moment the Umpire 
delivers an alternate ball to the pitcher, it comes in 
play," etc. "Delivers" is open to objection; if the 
Umpire slowly rolled the ball to the Pitcher, it might 
be maintained that it was " delivered " (in base-ball 
parlance) at the moment it left his hand, and base- 
runners might easily advance a base. The points to 
be considered, however, are whether the Pitcher has 
received the ball and whether he has touched the 
Pitcher's Plate after receiving it.) 

Sec. 3. AH balls used in championship-games 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 73 

shall be furnished by the home-club, and the last ball 
in play shall become the property of the winning club. 
If the ball last in play be lost, the winning club shall 
be given a reserve ball by the Umpire. 

Each ball to be used in championship-games shall 
be examined, measured, and weighed by the Secretary 
of the Association, enclosed in a paper-box and sealed 
with the seal of the Secretary, which seal shall not be 
broken except by the Umpire in the presence of the 
Captains of the two contesting clubs, after '^ Play " 
has been called. 

(The old Rule read that the " last ball in play " 
should become the property of the winning club. If 
the winning run were sent in by a Hit over the fence 
by one of the visiting club, the latter might have 
some difficulty in recovering as a trophy "the last 
ball in play." The new Rule permits the winning club 
to take a reserve ball in a case of this kind.) 

Sec. 4. Should the ball become out of shape, cut 
or ripped so as to expose the interior, or so injured in 
any way as to be unfit for use in the opinion of the 
Umpire, he shall at once put another (reserve) ball in 
play; and if there are not two balls ready for use he 
shall be furnished with a new one to make up the 
requisite number, as described in Sec. 2 of this Rule. 

(The words, "upon appeal by either Captain," in the 
old Rule, have been omitted ; for it might be inferred 
that the Umpire, although he had noticed that the ball 
was ripped or injured, could not replace it until his at- 
tention had been formally called to it. But it is the 
Umpire's duty to be ever on the watch and to take 
action without being asked. It will be noted, however, 
that there is nothing in the new Rule which prevents 
a Captain from calling the Umpire's attention to a 
defect in the ball. But a new ball is not always intro- 
duced if another ball be rejected as unfit for use, as the 
old Rule has it; this depends, as the new Rule states, 
upon the number of old balls already used and at hand.) 



74 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

The Bat. 

Rule 15. The bat must be made entirely of hard 
wood, except that the handle may be wound with 
twine, or be covered with a granulated substance for 
a space of not over eighteen inches from the end. It 
must be round, not exceed two and three-quarter 
inches in diameter at its thickest part, and not ex- 
ceed forty-two inches in length. 

The Players and Their Positions. 

Rule 16. The players of each club in a game shall 
be nine in number, one of whom shall act as captain, 
and in no case shall less than nine men be allowed to 
play on each side. The Captain may designate to the 
Umpire one of his players to represent him while he is 
a base-runner. 

(The last sentence is a necessary addition to this 
Rule, because the Captain only (Rule 56, Sec. 1) is al- 
lowed to appeal to the Umpire; consequently, by the old 
Rule, there could be no legitimate appeal from a coach- 
er, nor was the Umpire allowed to call " Time " (Rule 
58) to enable the Captain to leave a base and discuss a 
point. It is obvious that each side should be able at 
all times to make a legitimate appeal on interpreta- 
tion of the Rules. The amendment allows the Captain 
to choose any one of his players to represent him, not 
necessarily the same one at all times.) 

Rule 17. The players' positions shall be such as 
may be assigned them by their Captain, except that 
the Pitcher must observe Rule 29. 

(The old rule is objectionable in wording because it 
uses " position " in two senses, — " place occupied " and 
" posture." Rule 29 refers to both position and pos- 
ture, while the present Rule is intended to apply merely 
to the place occupied on the field by the players.) 

Rule 18. Players in uniform shall not be permitted 
to occupy seats among the spectators. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. t5 

Rule 19, Sec. 1. Every club shall adopt uniforms 
for its players. No player shall attach anything to 
the sole or heel of his shoes except rubber, leather- 
cleats, or equivalent device which will not be harmful 
to players in collision. 

(The sharp steel-plates in use have proved extremely 
dangerous, and there are a number of excellent sub- 
stitutes for them.) 

Sec. 2. The Catcher and First Baseman shall be per- 
mitted to wear a glove or mitt of any size, shape, or 
weight. All other players are restricted to the use of 
a glove or mitt weighing not over ten ounces, and 
measuring not over fourteen inches around the palm. 

Players' Benches. 

Rule 20. Players' benches must be furnished by 
the home-club and placed upon a portion of the Ground 
outside of, and not nearer than twenty-five feet to, the 
Players' Lines. One such bench must be for the exclu- 
sive use of the visiting club, and one for the exclusive 
use of the home-club; and the players of the compet- 
ing teams shall be required to occupy their respective 
benches while not engaged in active play, or in coach- 
ing from the positions defined in Rule 6, or while wait- 
ing at First Base as substitute base-runner as described 
in Rule 27, Sec. 3. 

(The words after " active play " have been added to 
the old Rule for the sake of completeness; coaching is 
hardly "active play," as the old Rule reads, and the 
rest of the Rule as it stands is necessary to bring it in 
accord with the addition to Rule 27, Sec. 3.) 

The Game. 

Rule 21, Sec. 1. Every championship-game must 
be begun not later than two hours before sunset. 

Sec. 2. A game shall consist of nine innings (Rule 
67) for each contesting club, except that, 



76 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

(a) If the side first at bat score less runs in nine 
innings than the side second at bat has scored in eight 
innings, the game shall then end. 

(b) If the side last at bat in the ninth innings ex- 
ceed, by one run, the score of the side first at bat, the 
game shall then end regardless of the number of men 
out at the time. 

(The old Rule states in substance that, when the 
winning run is scored, the game shall terminate, which 
is equivalent to saying that when the game is won the 
game is ended, — a rather obvious statement. The 
use of the word " winning " so early in the sentence is 
objectionable.) 

A Tie-Game. 

Rule 22. If the score be a tie at the end of nine 
innings, play shall be continued until one club has 
scored more runs than the other in an equal number of 
innings, unless the club second at bat exceed, by one 
run, the score of the side first at bat, in which case 
the game shall then end, regardless of whether the 
innings are equal or not. 

(The old Rule was open to the same objection as 
Rule 21, Sec. b,) 

A Drawn Game. 

Rule 23. A Drawn Game shall be declared by the 
Umpire when he terminates a game on account of 
darkness or rain, after five equal innings have been 
played, if the score at the time is equal on the last 
even innings played ; but, if the side second at bat is 
at the bat at the time of the interruption and has 
scored, in four or more innings, the same number of 
runs as the side first at bat, the Umpire shall declare 
the game drawn, without regard to the score of the 
last equal innings. 

(The old Rule has been amended to the effect that a 
game may be drawn when less than five full innings 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 77 

for each side have been played ("four or more" being 
equivalent to four and a fraction), and thus bring the 
Rule in line with analogous cases in Rules 24 and 26. 
The old Rule would seem to say that there can be no 
Drawn Game unless five full innings have been played, 
— the word " then " referring to the clause beginning 
with " when " and ending with " played.") 

A Called Game. 

Rule 24. If the Umpire call " Game " on account 
of darkness or rain at any time after five in- 
nings have been completed, the score shall be that 
of the last equal innings played ; but, if at the time 
of the interruption the side second at bat shall have 
scored, in four or more innings, one or more runs than 
the side first at bat, the score of the game shall be 
the total number of runs made. 

(Here, as in Rule 23, the old Rule did not include 
games of less than five full innings for each side, — 
there being nothing after "unless" which modifies 
the preceding clause, " after five innings have been 
completed.") 

A Forfeited Game. 

Rule 25. A Forfeited Game with a score of 9 to 
shall be declared by the Umpire in favor of the club 
not at fault in the following cases : 

Sec. 1. If the nine of a club fail to appear on the 
Ground, or being on the Ground fail to begin the game 
within five minutes after the Umpire has called " Play," 
at the hour appointed for the beginning of the game, 
unless such delay in appearing or beginning the game 
be unavoidable. 

Sec. 2. If, after the game has begun, one club 
refuse or fail to continue playing, unless such game 
has been suspended or terminated by the Umpire. 

Sec. 3. If, after play has been suspended by the 



'78 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Umpire, a club refuse to resume playing within one 
mmute after the Umpire has called "Play." 

Sec. 4. If a club resort to dilatory practices to 
delay the game. 

Sec. 5. If, in the judgment of the Umpire, the 
penalty of a forfeited game is deserved for wilful 
violation of these Rules. 

Sec. 6. If, after ordering the removal of a player, 
as authorized by Rule 59, Sec. 5, said order is not 
obeyed within one minute. 

Sec. 6A. If, in the judgm.ent of the Umpire, the 
penalty of a forfeited game is deserved under the 
provisions of Rule 63. 

Sec. 7. In case the Umpire declare a game for- 
feited, he shall transmit a written notice of the for- 
feiture to the President of the Association within 
twenty-four hours thereafter. 

(" At the request of such club " in the old Rule has 
been omitted as inconsistent with the letter and 
spirit of these Rules ; for, in Rule 55, Sees. 1 and 2, we 
find that the Umpire is " master of the field " and shall 
" compel " observance of the Rules. The Umpire 
should, therefore, take the initiative and enforce the 
Rules without waiting for " requests." A passive at- 
titude in the Umpire is to be discouraged ; he has ex- 
ecutive obligations as well as judicial. The habit of 
waiting for appeals is an encouragement to " kicking." 

Sec. 5 of the old Rule was absurd ; not all wilful 
violations of the Rules deserve the penalty of a for- 
feited game. A warning or fine is sufficient for some 
such offenses. 

Reference to Rule 63 in Sec. 6A is necessary to 
make a complete list of cases where forfeiture of the 
game is the penalty.) 

No Game. 

Rule 26. "No Game" shall be declared by the 
Umpire if he shall terminate play on account of rain or 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 79 

darkness, before five innings on each side have been 
completed, unless the game be called and the club 
second at bat shall have more runs at the end of its 
fourth inning or before completing its fifth inning than 
the club first at bat has made in five innings ; in this 
case, the Umpire shall declare " Game " in favor of the 
club which has made the greater number of runs, and 
the game shall be counted in the Championship- 
Record. 

(The old Rule failed to show that a club may win a 
game in its uncompleted fifth inning. And the latter 
part of the old Rule was objectionable in wording with 
reference to the term "game" ; it read to the effect 
that the Umpire shall award the "game," etc., before 
the contest was shown or declared to be a Game in dis- 
tinction from "No Game.") 

Substitutes. 

Rule 27. Sec. 1. In every cham.pionship-game, 
each club shall be required to have present on the 
Ground in uniform one or more substitute players. 

Sec. 2. The Captain of each club, after due notice 
to the Umpire, may withdraw any player at any time 
and substitute another ; but no player when withdrawn 
from a game shall play again in that game. ^ 

(The phrase " after due notice to the Umpire " has 
been inserted to prevent a Captain from gaining undue 
advantage by ordering, on the spur of the moment, 
one player out of the game and another into it, as, for 
example, ordering the Catcher out of the game and 
calling for a player sitting on the bench to catch a 
Foul Fly, declaring him in the game, — the ball being 
out of reach of the men already in active play. 
Similar instances could be mentioned.) 

Sec. 3. The base-runner shall not have a substitute 
run for him except by the consent of the Captains of 
the contesting clubs, and then only after the base- 
runner has reached First Base ; the substitute is then 



80 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

free to start immediately from Foul Ground for Second 
Base. The substitute shall be regarded as represent- 
ing the base-runner after touching the base at which 
he relieves the base-runner. While waiting for the 
batsman to become a bB,se-runner, the substitute shall 
occupy the coacher's position at first base (W X J on 
the diagram). 

(The old Rule failed to give the necessary restrictions 
governing a substitute base-runner. The latter should 
not start from Home-base because he would get an 
unfair start in some cases (as when standing behind a 
left-handed batsman) ; would be in the way of the 
Catcher, while waiting, etc. The amended Rule allows 
the substitute to take his station, on Foul Ground near 
First Base, ready to start instantly for Second Base if 
opportunity offer, as, for example, if the base-runner 
while batsman has made what appears to be a two-base 
hit. The new Rule also notes the instant when the sub- 
stitute becomes responsible and liable to be put out.) 

Choice of Innings. Condition of Ground. 

Rule 28. The choice of innings shall be given to 
the Captain of the home-club ; he shall also be the 
sole judge of the fitness of the ground for beginning 
a game after rain. In case of arrangement to play 
two or more games in one afternoon, the Captain's 
jurisdiction above mentioned shall apply only to the 
first game. 

(The old Rule says nothing about double games. 
Since the Umpire, by Rule 58, is judge of the fitness 
of conditions for play after a game has begun, it is 
only a continuance of this idea to extend this power 
to a series of contests in one afternoon, when once 
begun.) 

The Pitcher's Position. 

Rule 29. The Pitcher shall take his position, im- 
mediately before delivering the ball, facing the bats- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 81 

man, with the ball fairly in front of his body, and 
with both feet on the ground, — one in front of, and the 
other in contact with, the Pitcher's Plate, from which 
it must not be removed during the delivery of the ball 
and until the ball has left his hand. If he feign to 
throw the ball to a base, he must resume the above 
position in every detail and make a distinct pause, be- 
fore delivering the ball to the batsman. In making a 
delivery, he shall take but one step. 

(It is not necessary that the Pitcher's feet should be 
"square" on the ground as the old Rule reads; if he 
keeps them on the ground and one of them touching 
the Plate, that is sufficient. In reading the old Rule, 
it might be fairly inferred that both feet must be " in 
front of the Pitcher's Plate," and that one is subse- 
quently thrust back "in contact with the Pitcher's 
Plate." It is the intent of the Rule that one foot shall 
touch the Plate from the moment the attitude is 
assumed until the ball leaves the Pitcher's hand. 

The first part of the second sentence in the old Rule 
forbids the Pitcher, after taking his position, taking a 
step except for delivering the ball to the batsman; 
this would prevent stepping to throw to a base, after 
once taking the position. As throwing to a base under 
these conditions is both customary and reasonable, this 
will have to be considered as one of a number of cases 
where the Rule says what the framer did not mean. 

It is not necessary that the ball should be held " in 
sight of the Umpire," as this provision gives rise to 
petty appeals and quibbles. The important point is 
that the ball be held directly in front of the Pitcher's 
body. 

"Momentarily" in the old rule was usually in- 
terpreted in practice as an unnoticeable fraction of a 
second. Since the Rule is intended to facilitate and 
encourage base-running (which, as a rule, is at a com- 
paratively low ebb), the pause required should be 
genuine and distinct.) 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Illegal Delivery. 

Rule 29 A. An Illegal Delivery is a delivery of the 
ball to the batsman in a manner not in exact accord- 
ance with Rule 29. 

(The Rules of 1895 contain no definition of an 
Illegal Delivery, although they mention a penalty for 
one!) 

Fair and Unfair Balls. 

Rule 30. A Fair Ball is a ball delivered by the 
Pitcher in the manner prescribed in Rule 29, which 
passes over the Home-base not lower than the bats- 
man's knee nor higher than his shoulder. 

(One of the requirements for a Fair Ball is that the 
ball must be delivered in exact accordance with Rule 
29, and it is better to make reference to this Rule 
than to quote a fragment of it, as is done in old 
Rule 30.) 

Rule 31. An Unfair Ball is a ball delivered by the 
Pitcher in the manner prescribed in Rule 29, which 
does not pass over the Home-base, or, passing over the 
Home-base, goes below the batsman's knee, or above 
his shoulder. 

A Balk. 

Rule 32. A Balk shall be,— 

Sec. 1. Any motion made by the Pitcher to 
deliver the ball to the bat without delivering it. This 
Rule shall include any one of the Pitcher's usual 
movements in delivering the ball to the batsman. 

(Every Pitcher performs a certain series of move- 
ments in delivering the ball; if the base-runner notes 
that a single movement of this series has been made, 
he has a legal right to infer that the ball will be 
delivered and to act accordingly. Any failure to 
deliver under such conditions is a Balk, and the last 
sentence in the above Rule has been added to the old 
Rule to emphasize this fact, Umpires are much too 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 83 

liberal with Pitchers and base-running, therefore, 
suffers. Where two Umpires are employed, the one 
who follows the base-runner around the bases should 
have jurisdiction on Balks, because he sees the Pitcher^ s 
movements as the base-rimner sees them; an illegal 
movement on the part of the Pitcher which deceives 
the base-runner is often invisible to an Umpire stand- 
ing behind the batsman. An inspection of the Rule 
shows that it would also apply to any unuBU'dl move- 
ment by the Pitcher which appears to be a part or the 
whole of a movement to deliver.) 

Sec. 2. The holding of the ball by the Pitcher so 
long as to delay the game unnecessarily. 

(Sec. 3 of the old Rule is not necessary, as it is 
included under Sec. 1. Sec. 3 was probably intended 
as a definition of an Illegal Delivery; but the reader 
finds it under the heading " Balking.") 

Dead Balls. 

Rule 33. A Dead Ball is a ball delivered to the 
batsman by the Pitcher which touches any part of the 
batsman's person or clothing (without first touching 
his bat), while standing in his position defined in Rule 
10; or which touches, without first passing the Catcher, 
any part of the person or clothing of the Umpire while 
standing on Foul Ground. 

("Without being struck at" in the old Rule has 
been altered to " without first touching his bat." 
This is for the purpose of bringing under the Dead 
Ball Rule the case of a batsman touched by a pitched 
ball which he strikes at and misses; here base-runners 
are required to return to bases and the ball is really a 
Dead Ball, although the old Rule does not call it such. 
It should be noted that a pitched ball which first 
touches the batsman's bat caii never be a Dead Ball; 
to determine what it is. Rules 38 and 39 must be 
applied. It should also be noted that, in the first 



84 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

instance mentioned, the batsman is charged with a 
Strike under Rule 43, Sec. 1.) 

Rule 34. In the cases mentioned in Rule 14, Sec. 2 
(putting a new or extra ball in play), Rule 48, Sec. 5 
(Umpire struck by a Fair Hit) and Rule 49, Sees. 1 to 9 
(base-runner required to return to base), the ball shall 
not be in play until it is held by the Pitcher touching 
the Pitcher's Plate. 

(The old Rule omitted many cases which should be 
included. An enumeration of them would occupy too 
much space, while direct reference to them as above is 
both brief and exact. In the case mentioned in Rule 
46, Sec. 5, where the batsman wilfully interferes with 
the Catcher who is attempting to throw or field a ball, 
not only should the batsman be out, but the ball should 
also be out of play, and the base-runners be obliged to 
return to their bases. Also, in the other cases men- 
tioned, it is either common or reasonable practice to 
regard the ball as out of play. 

" Standing in his position " in old Rule 34 is not 
definite, as it is not clear whether it refers to a whole 
or a part of Rule 29. All that is required here is that 
the Pitcher shall receive the ball and touch the 
Pitcher's Plate. The closing words in the old Rule, 
" and the Umpire shall have called play," have been 
omitted because they call for an unnecessary for- 
mality. 

A Block-ball. 

Rule 35, Sec. 1. A Block-ball is a batted, thrown, 
or pitched ball which is touched, stopped, or handled 
by any person not engaged in the game. 

(The old Rule read, "batted or thrown ball"; 
" pitched " has been inserted here to forestall any 
possible quibble as to whether a " pitched " ball is a 
"thrown" ball.) 

Sec. 2. Whenever a Block-ball occurs, the Umpire 
shall declare it, and base-runners may run the bases 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 85 

without liability of being put out, until the ball has 
been returned to, and held by, the Pitcher touching 
the Pitcher's Plate. 

(" Standing in his position " in the old Rule is not 
definite enough. This has sometimes been inter- 
preted to mean that the Pitcher shall assume the 
attitude prescribed in Rule 29. Simply touching the 
Pitcher's Plate is sufficient.) 

Sec. 3. In case of a Block-ball, if a person not 
engaged in the game should retain possession of the 
ball or throw or kick it beyond the reach of the 
players, the Umpire shall call " Time " and require each 
base-runner to stop at the base last touched by him 
and remain there until the ball be returned to the 
Pitcher touching the Pitcher's Plate. 

(In the old Rule "stop" does double duty for "halt" 
and "remain." The first use is the legitimate one. 
"Standing in his position'^ in the old Rule is open to 
the same objection as in Sec. 2.) 

Batsman's Position. Order of Batting. 

Rule 36. The batsmen must take their positions 
within the Batsman's Lines, as defined in Rule 10, in 
the order given in a written or printed list which must 
have been submitted, before the game, to the Umpire, 
by the Captains of the opposing clubs ; and the bat- 
ting-order in this list must be followed except in the 
case of a substituted player, who must, if possible, 
take the place in the list of the one he succeeds when 
in the field, or, if that is not possible, a vacated place 
in the list designated by his Captain. After the first 
inning, the first striker in each inning shall be the bats- 
man whose name follows that of the last batsman who 
became a base- runner in the preceding inning or com- 
pleted a Time-at-bat. 

(" Written or printed " has been inserted as an indi- 
cation that the batting-order on public score-card is 
not necessarily the criterion in case of dispute ; a Cap- 



86 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

tain may see fit to present a revised, written list just 
before the game begins. 

** Original player " in the old Rule would be very 
obscure in some cases where more than one player is 
substituted at a time. If the substitutes take the 
places in the field of the players who retire, they 
would take their batting-positions also ; but if the 
substitutes, instead of taking the places in the field of 
the players who retire, take the positions of players 
who are still in the game, the substitutes could bat in 
any vacated batting-position designated by their Cap- 
tain. For example, if a Pitcher and Catcher are with- 
drawn, the succeeding Pitcher and Catcher will bat in 
the respective positions which have been vacated ; but 
if a Pitcher and Catcher are withdrawn, their places 
being filled by the Right Fielder and Center Fielder, 
and substitutes are brought into the game to take the 
places of the Right Fielder and Center Fielder, these 
substitutes manifestly cannot take the batting-places of 
the men they succeed in the field. The batting-places 
of the retired Pitcher and Catcher are vacant, while 
the new men are Right and Center Fielder, and there is 
nothing to serve as a guide in determining the occu- 
pancy of the batting positions by the substitutes. 
Here their Captain naturally would decide the matter. 
If one of the substitutes were a good batter and the 
other a poor one, and the vacated places on the 
batting-list, (say) third and ninth, it is apparent 
that it might be highly important on occasion to find 
this matter of succession defined as definitely as pos- 
sible in the Rule. 

The last sentence in the old Rule does not cover all 
the cases which it should, for Time-at-bat (see Rule 68) 
does not include the instances where a batsman takes 
his base on Balls, for being hit by a pitched ball, on 
account of an Illegal Delivery, etc. ; and yet, in these 
last instances, the batsman has completed his turn for 
the purposes of the present Rule.) 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 87 

Rule 37, Sec. i. When their side goes to the bat, 
players must immediately return to the Players' Bench 
as defined in Rule 20, and remain there until the side 
is put out, except when batsmen or base-runners ; 
provided that two of the players — one near First Base 
and one near Third Base — may occupy the positions 
defined in Rule 6, and indicated on the diagram by 
WXJ and TYZ. 

(The old Rule read " Captain and one assistant," thus 
allowing but one coacher when the Captain is batsman 
or base-runner. Evidently any two players should be 
allowed to coach (as is the general practice !). The 
new Rule also forbids more than one coacher at a 
base.) 

Sec, 2. No player of the side at bat (and then only 
so far as the batsman's rectangle extends into the 
Catcher's territory) shall occupy any portion of the 
space within the Catcher's Lines as defined in Rule 4. 
The triangular space behind the Home-base is re- 
served for the exclusive use of the Umpire, Catcher, 
and batsman, and the Umpire must prohibit any player 
of the side at bat from crossing the same unnecessa- 
rily at any time when the ball is in the hands of, or 
passing between, the Pitcher and Catcher while stand- 
ing in their usual places. 

(Such an insignificant part of the Catcher's territory 
is legally open to the batsman that it is best to have 
this clearly defined in the new Rule. 

" Unnecessarily " has been inserted in the new 
Rule ; the old Rule as it stands declares an effective 
blockade against the reasonable passage of coachers 
between the Players' Bench and their coaching-posi- 
tions at First Base and Third Base.) 

Sec. 3. The players of the side at bat shall occupy 
the portion of the Ground allotted to them, according 
to Sec. 1 of this Rule, but must speedily vacate any 
portion thereof which may be in the way of the ball or 
of any Fielder attempting to catch or field it. 



88 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

(Reference to Sec. 1 of this Rule has been inserted 
for completeness. 

" Ground " has been used in general in the revision 
instead of " field," because the former has been defined 
in Rule 1.) 

Batting Rules. 

Rule 38. A Fair Hit is a ball batted, whether inten- 
tionally or not, by the batsman standing in his posi- 
tion, which (1) first hits, on Fair Ground, a player, 
(except when within the Batsman's Lines), Umpire, or 
object, or (3) first strikes Fair Ground, unless it after- 
wards cross without interference from anyone to Foul 
Ground, before reaching First Base or Third Base ; or 
(3) a ball batted downward from the bat which crosses, 
without interference from anyone, from Foul Ground to 
Fair Ground, before reaching First Base or Third Base. 

" Fair Ground " is held to mean the territory or 
objects included between the Foul Lines indefinitely ex- 
tended ; the Foul Lines themselves and their imaginary 
extensions are considered " Fair Ground." 

(The old Rule is such a morass of errors, omissions, 
and general obscurity that it were difficult to say what 
part of it is correct. For example, there is no men- 
tion in it (nor anywhere in the code of Rules) of the 
fact that a pitched ball which hits the batsman's bat is 
always in play, whether the batsman intended to hit 
the ball or not. Again, a batted ball which " first 
touches any part of the person of a player " cannot 
possibly be a Fair Hit in a certain case, viz., when it 
first touches the batsman standing in his position. 
Again, it is a fair deduction from the latter part of the 
old Rule that a Fly-ball which first strikes Fo'ul Ground 
and then rolls upon Fair Ground between Home and 
First or between Home and Third Bases is a Fair Hit ; 
but this is not so. It is doubtful if an intelligent 
person unfamiliar with the game could gain a definite 
idea of what constitutes a Pair Hit, from the old Rule.) 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 89 

Rule 39. A Foul Hit is a ball batted, whether in- 
tentionally or not, by the batsman standing in his 
position (1) which hits him while in that position ; or 
(2) which first hits, on Foul Ground, a player, Umpire, 
or object, or (3) which first strikes Foul Ground, unless 
the ball be batted downward from the bat and cross, 
without interference from anyone, to Fair Ground be- 
fore reaching First Base or Third Base ; or (4) a batted 
ball which crosses, without interference from anyone, 
from Fair Ground to Foul Ground, before reaching First 
Base or Third Base. Provided that a Foul Hit, not 
rising above the batsman's head and caught by the 
Catcher within ten feet of Home Base, shall be termed 
a Foul Tip. 

" Foul Ground " is held to mean the territory and 
objects not included in the definition of " Fair Ground " 
in Rule 38. 

In case of a batted ball touching a player who is 
partly on Fair Ground and partly on Foul Ground, the 
hit shall be judged from the first point of contact of 
the ball with the player ; if this be inside or over the 
Foul Line, the hit shall be a Fair Hit, and, if outside the 
Foul Line, the hit shall be a Foul Hit. 

(The old Rule is fairly equal to old Rule 38 in inac- 
curacy and obscurity. For example, a batted ball 
which " first touches the ground ***** \^q, 
hind either of the Foul Lines " is not necessarily a Foul 
Hit ; it may be a Fair Hit, and, in fact, the latter part 
of old Rule 38 confirms this ! 

Without making further criticism, a careful examina- 
tion of old Rules 38 and 39 will show that they are 
mutually contradictory and hopelessly inaccurate.) 

Rule 40. A Bunt-hit is an attempt by a batsman to 
place a slowly-moving Fair Hit within the Infield so 
that it cannot be fielded an time to retire him. 

(" Deliberate " is superfluous and inaccurate in the 
old Rule ; the only point to be determined is whether 
there has been an " attempt," as distinguished from 



90 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

what is unintentional. An unsuccessful attempt, 
whether deliberate or not, is subject to the penalty in 
Rule 43, Sec. 4. 

"Fielded by an infielder" in the old Rule is open 
to objection, since the batsman aims to prevent the 
hit being fielded successfully by anyone ; this in- 
cludes, for example, the Catcher, who is scarcely an 
infielder.) 

Balls Batted Outside the Grounds. 

Rule 41. When a batted ball passes outside the 
Grounds and disappears, without touching a person or 
object, the Umpire shall decide the hit Fair or Foul, by 
the position where the ball is last seen, — if over Fair 
Ground, Fair, if over Foul Ground, Foul, and if over a 
Foul Line itself. Fair. 

(" Without hitting a person or object '^ is a very 
necessary clause which the old Rule does not contain. 
If the ball does strike a person or object, the position 
of the two latter will determine whether the hit is Fair 
or Foul, without regard to lohere the hall disappears. It 
is the intent of the Rule that, whenever it is impossible 
to apply Rule 38 or 39, the hit shall be judged from 
the point where the ball is last seen. 

The old Rule also fails to say anything about hits 
which disappear on the Foul Line. 

Rule 42. A Fair Hit which goes over the fence shall 
entitle the batsman to a Home-run except that, should 
it pass over the fence at a less distance than two 
hundred and thirty-five feet from the Home-base, he 
shall be entitled to two bases only. A distinctive line 
shall be marked on the fence at a point two hundred 
and thirty-five feet from the point F shown on the 
diagram. 

(For precision, the revised Rule reads that the dis- 
tance must be measured from the point F ; " Home- 
base" is not a definite point of beginning.) 






THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 91 

A Strike. 

Rule 43. A Strike is 

Sec. 1. A ball struck at by the batsman without its 
touching his bat. 

Sec. 2. A Fair Ball delivered by the Pitcher which 
is not struck at by the batsman. 

(The old Rule read, " Fair Ball legally delivered." 
" Legally " is superfluous as a Fair Ball is always 
legally delivered, by definition. Rule 30.) 

Sec. 3. An intentional Foul Hit. 

(The old Rule read, " An obvious attempt to make a 
Foul Hit." The criterion is not the " attempt " but the 
Foul Hit itself as the result of an " attempt." '' An 
obvious attempt to make a Foul Hit " might result in a 
Fair Hit, in which case the batsman would become a 
base-runner instead of having a Strike charged to him 
as the old Rule has it.) 

Sec. 4. A Foul Hit, not caught, made by the bats- 
man in attempting a Bunt-hit defined in Rule 40. 

(The latter part of the old Rule is not comprehen- 
sive enough as it confines the penalty to Foul Hits near 
the Foul Lines and does not include such, for example, 
as go straight from the bat to the Players' Benches. 
All Foul Hits, not caught, the result of attempts to 
make a Bunt-hit, should be included in the Rule, be- 
cause they usually delay the game and it is the aim of 
the Rule to prevent these delays, by putting a penalty 
on the unskilful batsman who is responsible for them.) 

Sec. 5. A ball struck at and missed, if the ball 
touch any part of the batsman's person. 

(The words " and missed " have been inserted in the 
old Rule. If the batsman strike at a ball which glances 
from his bat and hits him, this would be an instance of 
a Foul Hit, not a Strike.) 

Sec. 6. A Foul Tip (as defined at the end of Rule 
39). 

(The old Rule refers to " 10-foot lines " which have 



92 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

not been defined and do not exist. Furthermore, a 
direct reference to the definition of a Bunt-hit is more 
exact than an imperfect quotation from it which the 
old Rule gives. It should be noted that a Foul Tip is, 
by definition, a Foul Hit which is caught ; if the Foul 
Hit is not caught, it is not a Foul Tip.) 

Rule 44. A Foul Strike is the hitting of a pitched 
ball by the batsman when any part of his person is 
upon ground outside the Batsman's Lines. 

(Defining a Foul Strike as a " ball," in the old Rule, 
is perhaps not the best phraseology.) 

The Batsman is Out. 

Rule 45. The batsman is out, 

Sec. 1. If he fail to take his position at the bat 
according to the batting-order defined in Rule 36, 
unless the error be discovered before the player then 
batting becomes a base-runner or has completed a 
Time-at-bat, and the proper batsman be substituted; 
in this case, the Balls and Strikes already called must 
be charged to the proper batsman (who has been sub- 
stituted). Provided, that no out shall be declared 
after the Pitcher has delivered the ball to a batsman 
other than the improper batsman. In case an out be 
declared, no bases shall be run, no runs shall be scored, 
the ball shall be out of play, as defined in Rule 34, and 
the improper batsman's record while batting and all 
resulting from his becoming a base-runner shall be 
null and void. Only one out may be declared under 
this Rule, and, in case it is declared, the next batsman 
shall be the player who follows, in the batting-order, 
the player who is declared out. 

(The clause "before a Time-at-bat has been re- 
corded," in the old Rule, is not comprehensive enough ; 
it should include cases where the batsman takes his 
base on Balls, for being hit by a pitched ball, on an 
Illegal Delivery, etc. " Time-at-bat " (Rule 68) does 
not include these instances. After the wrong or im- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 93 

proper batsman has become a base-runner, it is too 
late to substitute the proper batsman. 

The clause " and only the proper batsman shall be 
declared out," in the old Rule, is inserted at the 
wrong point and helps to make the whole obscure. 
Moreover, who is meant by " the succeeding batsman " 
in the old Rule is not definitely shown. 

This Rule appears to be very imperfectly under- 
stood. A good start to a clearer understanding would 
be made if it were recognized that a player is never 
" out for batting out of turn " y the player who fails 
to bat in turn is out, if anyone. 

It has sometimes happened that two or more players 
in a series have failed to take their proper turn and 
have been declared out, in a bunch, after the wrong 
or improper batsman had become a base-runner ; the 
Rule of 1895 aimed to have but one out, viz., the^^r^^ 
delinquent who failed to bat in turn.) 

Sec. 2. If he fail to take his position within one 
minute after the Umpire has called for the batsman. 

Sec. 3. If he make a Foul Hit other than a Foul 
Tip, as defined in Rule 39, and the ball be momentarily 
held, before touching the ground, by a Fielder, pro- 
vided it be not caught in the Fielder's hat or cap, or 
do not touch any object other than a Fielder before 
being caught. 

Sec. 4. If he make a Foul Strike. 

Sec. 5. If he attempt to hinder the Catcher from 
fielding or throwing the ball by stepping outside the 
Batman's Lines or by otherwise obstructing or inter- 
fering with that player. 

(Batsman's Lines, having been defined, is a more 
definite term than " position.") 

Sec. 6. If, when First Base be occupied, with less 
than two out, three Strikes be called on him by the 
Umpire. 

Sec. 7. If, after two Strikes have been called, he 
make an intentional Foul Hit as in Rule 43, Sec. 3. 



94 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

(" Obviously attempt to make a Foul Hit " in the 
old Rule is open to the same objection as old Rule 43, 
Sec. 3 ; it is not the " attempt " but the Foul Hit itself 
as the result of an attempt which constitutes the third 
Strike.) 

Sec. 8. If the ball touch any part of his person 
when the third Strike be declared. 

^"Attempting a third strike" in the old Rule is 
objectionable ; batsman usually attempt to hit the 
ball. Moreover, the wording has been changed to 
include any case where a third Strike is called and the 
batsman is touched by the ball, as, for example, if he 
gets in the way of a called third Strike. 

The latter part of the old Rule about returning to 
bases has no place here where the batsman is under 
consideration ; the matter is fully provided for under 
Rule 49, which pertains to the base-runner, in Sec. 5.) 

Sec. 9. If, while First Base be occupied, with less 
than two men out, he hit a Fly-ball on which it is 
possible for the side in the field to make a double 
play, by refusing to make a legal catch as defined in 
Rule 50, Sec. 2. If such a possibility exist, the Umpire 
shall call, as promptly as he can, " Batter Out." 

(The intent of this Rule has always been to prevent 
double plays by manipulation of Fly-balls, and the 
main consideration, therefore, to be taken into account 
in framing the Rule should have been the possibility 
of making a double play. Instead of this, the old 
Rule has engendered unnecessary and endless discus- 
sion by using the undefined term "infield-hit," and 
many a wrangle has very naturally arisen as to whether 
a hit could be " handled by an infielder " or not. It is 
immaterial where the hit goes or what player is appar- 
ently about to handle it ; the point for the Umpire to 
consider is whether a reasonable chance for a double 
play exists. If it does exist, he must promptly indi- 
cate it by calling " Batter Out " ; if it does not exist, 
he will say nothing. Thus, the base-runner will not be 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 95 

left uncertain, by the similarity of sound between 
"infield hit " and "outfield hit," and even when well 
nigh prevented by noise from hearing at all, the fact 
that the Umpire appears to be saying anything will be 
indication that the batsman is instantly out. Uncer- 
tainty and disputes have arisen, for the most part, in 
the case of hits about to fall in the debatable ground 
back of the infielders and in front of the outfielders ; 
the fact that an infielder who had run towards the 
outfield and was apparently about to make the catch, 
gave way and allowed an outfielder to manipulate the 
ball, has (absurdly enough) been often regarded as 
cause for considering the hit an "outfield hit" and one 
which " could not be handled by an infielder." And 
yet, if the outfielder had not been there, the infielder 
could and would have handled that self- same hit. 

The old Rule reads "with only one out," from 
which it might be fairly inferred that double plays ad 
libitum might be made, with none out. 

The old Rule also would seem to indicate that the 
framer thought that at least two bases (First and Sec- 
ond Bases) must be occupied before a double play 
could be made and make necessary the existence of 
this Rule ; but it is by no means difficult for the 
Second Baseman, for example, when First Base only is 
occupied, to manipulate a short Fly-ball in the base- 
line and retire two men on the play. 

The last part of Sec. 9 of the old Rule very curiously 
strayed over and attached itself to the end of Sec. 10, 
beginning, "in such case, etc.") 

Sec. 10. If the third Strike be called in accordance 
with Sec. 4, Rule 43. 

Base-running Rules. 

When the Batsman Becomes a Base-runner. 

Rule 46. The batsman becomes a base-runner, — 
Sec, 1. Instantly after he makes a Fair Hit, 



96 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Sec. 2. Instantly after four Unfair Balls have been 
called by the Umpire. 

(" Unfair Balls " refers to what has already been 
defined and is preferable to the undefined term " balls " 
in the old Rule.) 

Sec. 3. Instantly after three Strikes have been 
called by the Umpire. 

Sec. 4. If, while standing within the Batsman's 
Lines, and without striking at the ball, his person or 
clothing be touched by a pitched ball which does not 
first hit his bat, unless, in the opinion of the Umpire, 
he intentionally permits himself to be hit. 

(Considering the importance of sound hands and 
forearms to a player, it seems absurd that these mem- 
bers alone, according to the old Rule, may be hit with 
impunity by a careless Pitcher ; the Rule has, there- 
fore, been extended to include hits on any part of the 
body. While the old Rule may have been framed to 
circumvent a certain few players who were skillful 
enough to allow their forearms to be slightly touched 
without injury or discomfort, the large majority either 
cannot perform the feat or do not care to take the 
risk. What few attempts to gain a base in this way 
may be made will be subject to the Umpire's veto, as 
is the case by the old Rule when other parts of the 
body are hit. 

^' While standing within the Batsman's Lines " has 
been inserted as a proper restriction ; and the clause, 
" which does not first hit his bat," has been added to 
make sure of the exclusion of a Foul Hit of that kind. 

Sec. 5. Instantly after an Illegal Delivery. 

Bases to be Touched. 

Rule 47. The base-runner must touch each base in 
regular order, viz.. First, Second, Third, and Home 
Bases and, when obliged to return (except as required 
in Rule 49), must re-touch the base or bases in reverse 
order. He shall be considered as holding a base only 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 97 

after legally touching it, and shall then be entitled to 
hold such base until he has legally touched the next 
base in order, or has been legally forced to vacate it 
for a succeeding base-runner, on account of the bats- 
man becoming a base-runner. He cannot legally touch 
or hold a base until it has been legally vacated by the 
preceding base-runner. 

(" Except on a Foul Hit/' in the old Rule, includes 
only one instance which it should out of those in Rule 
49. Whenever a base-runner is permitted to return 
without being put out, he should go by the shortest 
path to save time. 

" Legally " has been inserted before " touching it " 
as a necessary qualification. It occasionally happens 
that a base-runner, without being forced directly or in- 
directly by the batsman, runs and touches a base to 
which another base-runner is still entitled ; in this 
case, there is a very great difference between ^^ touch- 
ing " and " legally touching." 

The last sentence in the revised Rule is necessary 
for completeness and is very pertinent in certain cases.) 

Base-runner Entitled to Bases. 

Rule 48. The base-runner shall be entitled to take 
one base, without being put out, in the following 
cases. 

Sec. 1. If, while he is a batsman, the Umpire call 
four Unfair Balls or an Illegal Delivery or if the bats- 
man become a base-runner under the provisions of 
Rule 46, Sec. 4. 

(The old Rule 46, Sees. 4 and 5, declares a batsman 
a base-runner, after being hit by a pitched ball and 
after an Illegal Delivery ; but, in Rule 48 under '^ En- 
titled to Bases," there is no further mention of the 
batsman in these two instances. The revised Sec. 1 of 
Rule 48, therefore, states that he is entitled to one 
base.) 

Sec. 2. If the Umpire award a succeeding batsman 



98 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

a base on four Unfair Balls, for being hit by a pitched 
ball or for an Illegal Delivery and the base-runner be 
thereby forced to vacate a base held by him ; or, if 
under the provisions of Rule 60, Sec. 12, he be forced 
to take a base, through the batsman becoming a base- 
runner and after another base-runner has been de- 
clared out for being hit by a batted ball. 

(A base-runner is entitled, under certain conditions 
indicated in Rule 60, Sec. 12, to take a base ; but old 
Rule 48 makes no mention of this.) 

Sec. 3. If the Umpire call a Balk. 

Sec. 4. If a ball delivered by the Pitcher pass the 
Catcher and touch the Umpire, or any fence or build- 
ing within ninety feet of the Home-base. 

Sec. 5. If, upon a Fair Hit, the ball strike the per- 
son or clothing of the Umpire on Fair Ground. 

Sec. 6. If he be prevented from making a base by 
the obstruction of an opposing player. 

Sec. 7. If a Fielder stop or catch a batted ball with 
his hat or any part of his dress. 

Returning to Bases. 

Rule 49. The base-runner shall return to his base 
and shall be entitled to return without being put out. 

Sec. 1. If the Umpire declare a Foul Hit which is 
not legally caught by a Fielder. 

(The old Rule also permitted a return without being 
put out on a Foul Tip. Since a Foul Tip is a Foul 
Hit which is caught and is also called a Strike (Rule 
43, Sec. 6), there is no reason why a base-runner should 
be allowed or required to return on it. As a matter 
of fact, in games, he did not return last season, but 
proceeded in every respect as though there had been 
called a missed or called Strike. The old Rule was 
one thing and the common practice another.) 

Sec. 2. If the Umpire declare a Foul Strike. 

Sec. 3. If the Umpire declare a Dead Ball, unless 
it be also the fourth Unfair Ball, and he be forced 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 99 

thereby to take the next base, as provided in Rule 48, 
Sec. 2. 

Sec. 4. If the person or clothing of the Umpire 
interfere with the Catcher or he be struck by a ball 
thrown by the Catcher to intercept a base-runner. 

(Sec. 5 of the old Rule relative to a batsman touched 
by a pitched ball which he strikes at and misses has 
been omitted, because the revised Rule 33 classes such 
a ball as ** dead," and Dead Balls have already been in- 
cluded under Sec. 3, Rule 49.) 

Sec. 5. If an out be declared under Rule 45, Sec. 
1, and he has advanced a base on account of the 
improper batsman becoming a base-runner. 

(Rule 45, Sec. 1, declares that no bases shall be run, 
under certain conditions named, and it follows that 
base-runners shall return and be entitled to return 
without being put out ; but old Rule 49 makes no 
mention of this. 

It should be noted that the return is confined to 
base-runners who advance on account of an improper 
batsman becoming a base-runner. If a base-runner 
advance by stealing a base or aided by a Passed Ball 
by the Catcher, for example, before the improper bats- 
man become a base-runner, there is no reason why 
the base-runner should return.) 

Sec. 6. If the batsman interfere with the Catcher 
who is trying to field or throw a ball as described in 
Rule 45, Sec. 5. 

(The old Rule 49 does not contain this provision ; 
and yet it would be entirely unjust should the base- 
runner be allowed to advance when the batsman's 
interference with the Catcher prevents a timely throw 
or causes a wild one.) 

Sec. 7. If an out be declared on account of another 
base-runner interfering with a Fielder, as defined in 
Rule 50, Sees. 1 and 8. 

(The old Rule makes no provision for returning in 
these instances, but it is obvious that no base-runner 



100 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUmE. 

should be allowed to gain advantage from the interfer- 
ences mentioned.) 

Sec. 8. If an out be declared on account of another 
base-runner being hit by a batted ball, unless he have 
to make way for a succeeding base-runner, as defined 
in Rule 50, Sec. 12. 

Sec. 9. If " Time " be called, after a Block-ball, as 
in Rule 35, Sec. 3 ; or if " Play " be called after a 
suspension of the Game. 

When Base-runners are Out. 

Rule 50. The base-runner is out, 

Sec. 1. If, after three Strikes have been declared 
against him while batsman and the Catcher fail to hold 
the ball, he plainly attempt to hinder the Catcher from 
fielding the ball. 

Sec. 2. If, having made a Fair Hit while batsman, 
such Fair Hit be momentarily held by a Fielder, before 
it touches the ground or any object other than a 
Fielder, provided it be not caught in the Fielder's hat 
or cap. 

Sec. 3. If, when the Umpire has declared three 
Strikes on him while batsman, a Fielder shall momen- 
tarily hold the ball, on the third Strike, before it 
touches the ground, provided it be not caught in the 
Fielder's hat or cap, or do not touch any object 
other than a Fielder before being caught. 

Sec. 4. If, after three Strikes or a Fair Hit made 
while batsman, he be touched with the ball in the 
hands of a Fielder before he shall have touched First 
Base. 

Sec. 5. If, after three Strikes or a Fair Hit, the 
ball reach the First Baseman before the base-runner 
shall have touched First Base, provided the First 
Baseman retain possession of the ball while touching 
the base. 

(The old Rule read, " if the ball be securely held," 
etc. From the use of the word " securely " it might 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE, 101 

be understood that if, for example, the ball bounded 
up from the First Baseman's hands, it would not be 
regarded as held until it again dropped into his hands, 
— this latter moment being considered the instant 
when the ball is ** securely held " at First Base. It 
would seem more reasonable to consider that, if the 
ball strike the First Baseman's hands or person before 
the base-runner touch the base, the base-runner 
shall be declared out, provided the First Baseman does 
not allow the ball to touch the ground and retains 
final possession of it while touching his base ; and the 
Rule has been revised to agree with this idea. If the 
ball beat the base-runner to First Base, that is the real 
test for an out ; and the only thing that can reverse the 
case is the subsequent loss of the ball. 

In connection with this case, it is pertinent to men- 
tion that of the outfielder, who would formerly toss 
up or '^ juggle " a long Fly-ball to prevent a base- 
runner from promptly leaving a base the moment the 
ball touched the outfielder's hands. Although base- 
runners who started before the ball finally settled in 
the outfielder's hands were, for a time, declared out 
if the ball were sent to, and held at, the base they had 
just left, it was finally decided (and it is the present 
ruling) that the catch is in force from the instant the 
ball touches the Fielder's hands. And it is desirable, 
for uniformity, that a catch shall be in force at the 
same instant, in all cases, whether the ball be batted 
or thrown.) 

Sec. 6. If, in running to First Base when the ball be 
thrown to that base, he fail to run in the lane formed 
by the Three-foot Lines, defined in Rule 7, unless it 
be necessary to go outside to avoid a Fielder attempt- 
ing to field a ball. 

(This rule is too frequently disregarded by players 
and the penalty rarely enforced by Umpires, and then 
only when wrung out of them by several appeals, — 
which are not required (Rule 51). The term "lane" 



102 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

will perhaps emphasize what is required of base-run- 
ners. 

The old Rule confines itself to " a Fielder attempt- 
ing to field a batted ball." The revised Rule includes 
both batted and thrown balls ; if, for example, the 
First Baseman has to get in the base-runner's usual 
path to catch a poorly thrown ball, the base-runner 
should go outside the Three-foot lane, if necessary to 
avoid him. 

The old Rule refers to running "the last half of the 
distance from Home-base to First Base " ; this is not 
accurate, as the Three-foot Lines extend three feet 
beyond the further edge of the First Base, i. e., ninety- 
three feet from Home-base.) 

Sec. 7. If he run more than three feet from a direct 
line between succeeding bases to avoid a Fielder try- 
ing to touch him with the ball. But, if a Fielder 
attempting to field a batted ball be directly in the 
way of the approaching base-runner, the latter shall 
go behind the Fielder, but never at any greater dis- 
tance beyond three feet from a direct line between 
bases than is necessary to avoid interfering with the 
Fielder. 

(The old Rule fails to cover the case of a base- 
runner going more than three feet from the line of 
base, between Home-base and First Base, to avoid 
being touched with the ball by a Fielder ; nor was 
there any Rule in the code to fit this case and prevent 
a base-runner dodging as he pleased. The revised 
Rule does not enumerate the bases, like the old Rule, 
for it is not necessary ; a player is a base-runner from 
Home-base to Home-base, and the term " base-runner " 
in the Rule should convey this idea. 

"To avoid being touched by the ball in the hands of 
a Fielder," in the old Rule, is not perfectly satisfactory 
and definite. The point to be considered is whether 
there has been an avoidance in fact or in intent. 
Before there can be any ground for applying this part 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 103 

of the Rule, it is essential that (1) the Fielder should 
have the ball, and that he should (2) actually make an 
attempt to touch the base-runner ; in the absence of 
one or both these essentials, the side in the field can 
suffer no hardship or injustice, such as the Rule aims 
to prevent, if the base-runner, in passing the Fielder, 
go more than three feet out of the line of base. 
**Avoid " in the old Rule might be argued to mean 
intent on the part of the base-runner, and that, 
although the Fielder might have fumbled the ball at 
the critical instant when he needed it to touch the 
base-runner, or have thrown the ball elsewhere when 
he should have reached for the base-runner, the latter 
is out for the mere fact that he did run three feet out 
of the line of base, with the evident intent of escaping 
the touch. It ought to be evident that the base-run- 
ner would not be out, in these cases ; if the side in the 
field has suffered, it is by its own mistakes. There 
must be an actual attempt to reach for the base-runner, 
with the ball, or there can be no out declared ; and 
the Rule has been revised to fit this view. The old 
Rule does not carefully discriminate between intent 
and fact. 

" Base-runner's proper path," in the old Rule, has 
no definite meaning. With the exception of the 
Three-foot Lines, the base-runner has no "proper 
path " ; he is allowed to run where he pleases between 
bases, subject to penalties for interferences and dodging. 

The closing clause of the old Rule, — " and shall not 
be declared out for so doing," — defeats the purpose of 
the first part of the Rule, in certain cases, because it 
sets no limit to the distance a base-runner may go out 
of the line of base when passing behind a Fielder to 
avoid interference ; as far as the Rule is concerned, he 
could always keep out of arm's reach and yet never be 
declared out for being over three feet from the line of 
base while avoiding a touch with the ball.) 

Sec. 8. If he fail to avoid a Fielder attempting to 



104 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

field a batted ball, as described in Sees. 6 and 7 of 
this Rule ; or if he in any way obstruct a Fielder 
attempting to field a batted ball ; or if he intentionally 
interfere with a thrown ball or with a Fielder attempting 
to throw a ball. Provided, that if two or more Fielders 
attempt to field a ball and the base-runner come in 
contact with one or more of them, the Umpire shall 
decide which Fielder is entitled to the benefit of this 
Rule, and shall not decide the base-runner out for 
coming in contact with any other Fielder. 

(In the revision, the words, — " or a Fielder attempt- 
ing to throw a ball," — have been inserted to cover 
such a case as that of a Second Baseman prevented 
from throwing to First Base and completing a double 
play, by wilful interference by the base-runner. The 
sentence beginning with *' Provided " has been ex- 
tended to include the attempt to field any ball.) 

Sec. 9. If, at any time while the ball is in play, he 
be touched by the ball in the hands of a Fielder, unless 
some part of his person is touching a base which he is 
entitled to occupy, provided the ball be held by the 
Fielder after touching him. But, in running to First 
Base, he may overrun said base, after touching it, 
without being put out for being off said base, pro- 
vided he return at once and re-touch the base, after 
which he may be put out as at any other base. If, 
in overrunning First Base, he also attempt to run to 
Second Base, or if, after passing First Base, he turn 
first to his left, he shall forfeit such exemption from 
being put out. 

(The old Rule was not perfectly clear about turning 
after overrunning the base, but was held to mean that 
the base-runner might turn in either direction, with- 
out forfeiting the exemption, if he were on Foul 
Ground, but to the right only, if he were on Fair 
Ground. To avoid all discussion and risk, it has been 
the usual practice to adopt the simple precaution of 
always turning to the right. Such being the case, it 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 105 

simplifies the Rule and the application of it to bring it 
to conform to the usual practice.) 

Sec. 10. If, when a Fair or a Foul Hit (other than 
a Foul Tip as defined in Rule 39) is legally caught by 
a Fielder, such ball be legally held by a Fielder on the 
base occupied by the base-runner when such ball was 
struck (or the base-runner be touched with the ball in 
the hands of a Fielder), before he re-touches said base 
after such Fair Hit or Foul Hit was so caught. Pro- 
vided that the base-runner shall not be out in such 
case, if, after the ball was caught legally as above, it 
be delivered to the bat by the Pitcher before the 
Fielder holds it on said base or touches the runner 
with it. If the runner, in attempting to reach a base, 
detach it before being touched or forced out, he shall 
be declared safe. 

Sec. 11. If, when a batsman becomes a base-runner, 
the First Base or the First and Second Bases or the 
First, Second, and Third Bases be occupied, any base- 
runner so occupying a base shall cease to be entitled 
to hold it, until any following base-runner is put out, 
and may be put out, in the same manner as in running 
to First Base, at the next base or by being touched by 
the ball in the hands of a Fielder, at any time before 
any following base-runner be put out. 

Sec. 12. If a Fair Hit strike him before touching a 
Fielder or the Umpire / and, in such case, no base 
shall be run except a single one by the batsman, who 
becomes a base-runner (unless he himself be put out 
by being hit by the batted ball), or except by a base- 
runner who is forced by the batsman becoming a base- 
runner ; no other player shall be put out ; and no runs 
shall be scored. 

(The insertion of the words, " or the Umpire," after 
the words in the old Rule, " before touching a Fielder," 
is necessary because, by Rule 48, Sec. 5, each base- 
runner may take one base when the Umpire standing 
on Fair Ground is hit by a batted ball. 



106 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

It should be clearly understood that, under no cir- 
cumstanceSy can a run be legally scored, when a base- 
runner is out for being hit by a batted ball. The old 
Rule has, for years, contained the unqualified state- 
ment, — "no run shall be scored." And yet League 
players and Umpires have shown ignorance of this 
fact. Probably the words, "no base shall be run 
unless forced," have been the source of this error, and 
given rise to the belief that a run might be forced in. 
But no case can occur where this would be true ; the 
base-runner on Third Base would either be out for 
being hit by a batted ball or else be free to remain at 
Third Base unforced, — one of the following base- 
runners having been hit by the batted ball.) 

Sec. 13. If, when running to a base or when forced 
to return to a base, he fail to touch the intervening 
base or bases, if any, in the order and manner prescribed 
in Rule 47, he may be put out in the same manner as 
when running to First Base, at the base he fails to 
touch, or by being touched by the ball in the hands of 
a Fielder. Provided that the base-runner shall not be 
out in such case, if the ball be delivered to the bat by 
the Pitcher before the Fielder hold it on said base or 
touch the base-runner with it. 

(The old Rule reads, "in the order prescribed in 
Rule 47." This has been amended by inserting " and 
manner " after " order." The first sentence in Rule 
47 refers to the " order " and the last sentence to the 
" manner," — the latter being of great importance when 
more than one base-runner is making the round of the 
bases. The base-runner must touch the bases not 
only in regular order but also with due reference to 
the preceding runner.) 

Sec. 14. If, when obliged to return to a base as in 
Rule 49, the base-runner fail to do so, and, after the 
ball has been put in play (Rule 34), touch the base to 
which he was entitled when required to return, in 
which case he may be put out by a Fielder holding the 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE, 107 

ball at such base or by being touched with the ball in 
the hands of a Fielder. Provided, the base-runner 
shall not be out in such case, if the ball be delivered 
to the batsman by the Pitcher, before the Fielder hold 
it on said base or touch the base-runner with it. 

(The old Rule contained no provision for putting a 
base-runner out, as above, in case of a Foul Hit, not 
caught, for example ; nor did any Rule in the old code. 
The latter part of the old Rule beginning, — " Pro- 
vided," etc., showed how the base-runner could not be 
put out, but the first part failed to show how he could 
be put out. The mere failure to return, as the first part 
of the old Rule indicates, does not constitute an out. 
Moreover, from the clause, " before touching the next 
base," it might well be inferred that the base-runner 
might re-touch the original base at his leisure, at any 
time before he got under way for the next. The 
facts are, however, that the base-runner is allowed a 
safe return (Rule 49) but must avail himself of it at 
once. The safest course for him is to go back and 
stay on the base until the ball is put in play. He may, 
however, return merely to the vicinity of the base, tak- 
ing car6 to touch the base after the ball is put in play.) 

Sec. 15. If, when the side in the field attempt to 
put out two or more base-runners by consecutive plays, 
he be saved from an imminent out, by the wilful in- 
terference of a preceding base-runner with a Fielder. 

(It is a well-known practice to declare a batsman 
out on becoming a base-runner, if he be saved from 
being put out by flagrant interference of the preced- 
ing base-runner at Second Base. It is perhaps time 
that the Rules contained some recognition of this 
practice. The new Rule obviously would apply to 
any two bases or to an attempted triple play.) 

Batsman and Base-runner Out Without Appeal. 

Rule 51. The Umpire shall declare the batsman or 
base-runner out, without waiting for an appeal for 



108 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

his decision, in all cases where such player is put out 
in accordance with these Rules. 

(The old Rule contained the final clause, — " except 
as provided in Rule 50, Sees. 10 and 14." This refer- 
ence is very indefinite and obscure and warrants con- 
clusions which do not agree with common practice. 
Sec. 10, for example, deals with base-runners who are 
put out through failure to regain their bases in time, 
after Fly-balls which are caught ; and the clause just 
quoted beginning, ^* except," etc., fairly says that such 
base-runners shall not be declared out by the Umpire 
except on appeal ! This is not only absurd but con- 
trary to general practice. Theframerof Sec. 14 prob- 
ably had reference to the latter part of Sec. 10 begin- 
ning with " Provided," and had in mind some such case 
as that of a base-runner who, on a caught Fly-ball, 
returns nearly to his base but does not touch it ; in 
case no attempt were made immediately after the 
catch to put this base-runner out, it might be possi- 
ble for the Pitcher, for example, before delivering the 
ball to the batsman, to throw suddenly to the base 
and get the ball there ahead of the base-runner, put- 
ting him out, because he has not yet touched the base. 
In this case, the framer perhaps thought the out 
should be declared only on appeal. But an appeal 
would be not only unnecessary but also objectionable. 
An Umpire cannot declare an out of this kind, or in 
general, except from what he sees ; and, if he sees the 
facts, he can and should give a decision without ap- 
peal. Appeals are to be strongly discouraged ; they 
are one of the germs from which have sprung present- 
day evils on the ball-field. The old Rule leaves all 
outs, except under two Sections, to be declared by the 
Umpire without appeal, and there is no good reason 
why these two should not be included. The excep- 
tion forming the close of the old Rule has, therefore, 
been dropped.) 



the victor baseball guide. 109 

Coaching-Rule. 

Rule 52. The coachers shall be restricted to coach- 
ing the base-runners and shall not be allowed to ad- 
dress any remarks except to them, and then only words 
of necessary direction ; they shall not use language 
which shall reflect, in any manner, upon a player of 
the opposing club, the Umpire, or the spectators. 
There shall not be more than two coachers at one 
time ; one of them must be playing in the game and 
the other may be any player in uniform under con- 
tract to the club. The coachers shall occupy the posi- 
tions described in Rule 6, and no more than one shall 
be at a Base. 

The Umpire shall enforce this Rule vigorously and, 
after once warning a player, may require him to re- 
tire from the Game and leave the playing-field, for a 
repetition of the offense. 

(In the revised Rule, the Coacher's Lines are re- 
ferred to and but one coacher allowed at each position. 

The last sentence of the old Rule has been changed 
to exclude the appeal of the opposing Captain, and 
also to allow the Umpire to use his judgment about 
removing a player for a second offense. As regards 
the removal, the old Rule left no choice and was 
seldom observed literally. It is largely a matter of 
judgment whether a second offense deserves removal. 
As regards the appeal of the opposing Captain, it is 
the aim of the revision to throw the enforcement of 
the Rule wholly on the Umpire ; he should know the 
Rules thoroughly, be ever on the watch for violations of 
them and enforce them without being urged or 
prodded. The old Rule encourages inertia in the 
Umpire and often leads to his doing nothing until 
forced. Rule 55, Sec. 1, reads that he '^ is master of 
the field.") 

Scoring of Runs. 

Rule 53. One run shall be scored every time a base- 



110 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

runner, after legally touching First, Second, and Third 
Bases, shall legally touch the Home-base before three 
men are put out ; but if the third player put out be 
forced out, as in Rule 50, Sec. 11, or fail to legally 
hold First Base, no run shall be scored on the play. 

(The old Rule read, " If the third man is . . . 
put out before reaching First Base." This applies to 
such a familiar case as that of a batsman who is the 
third man out on a long Fly-ball which is caught only 
after he has passed First Base and is well on his way 
to Second Base. From this it is evident that " before " 
refers not to " point of time " but to " point of fact," 
if the expression may be used. The use of "before " 
is, therefore, likely to be somewhat ambiguous, in 
some other less familiar instances which may arise ; 
and the new Rule is intended to be more precise by 
the use of the words, " or fail to legally hold First 
Base.") 

The Umpire. 

Rule 54. The Umpire shall not be changed during 
the progress of the Game, except for reason of illness 
or injury. 

His Powers and Jurisdiction. 

Rule 56, Sec. 1. The Umpire is master of the field 
from the beginning to the termination of the Game, 
and is entitled to the respect of the spectators, and any 
person offering insult or indignity to him must be 
promptly ejected from the Ground. 

Sec. 2. He must be addressed by the players inva- 
riably as ^'Mr. Umpire"; and he must compel the 
players to observe the provisions of all the Rules, and 
he is hereby invested with authority to order any 
player to do or omit to do any act he may deem neces- 
sary to give force and effect to any and all such Rules. 

Special Duties. 
Rule 56. The Umpire's duties shall be as follows, 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. Ill 

Sec. 1. The Umpire is sole and absolute judge of 
the play. In no instance shall any person, except the 
Captains of the opposing clubs (Rule 16), be allowed 
to address him or question his decisions, and then only 
on interpretation of the Rules. No manager or any 
other officer of either club shall be permitted to go on 
the playing-field or address the Umpire, under penalty 
of forfeiture of the Game. 

(Reference is made to Rule 16, by which the Cap- 
tain's representative may address the Umpire. Under 
the old Rule, there was practically no legal appeal 
when the Captain was a base-runner ; the coachers 
could not appeal, and the Captain was not in position 
to do so in a proper manner.) 

Sec. 2. Before the beginning of the game, the 
Umpire shall see that the Rules governing all the 
materials of the Game have been observed strictly. He 
shall ask the Captain of the home-club whether there 
are any special ground-rules to be enforced, and, if 
there are, he shall inform the Captain of the visiting 
club of them and see that they are duly enforced, pro- 
vided they do not conflict with any of these Rules. 
By special understanding between the Umpire and 
both Captains, such limited modifications of these 
Rules may be made as are rendered absolutely neces- 
sary under special conditions. 

(The old Rule has been amended to the effect that 
the Umpire and both Captains shall confer in regard 
to ground-rules ; and also about special Rules for the 
day or hour, in case of the crowd occupying part of 
the playing-field, for example.) 

Sec. 3. The Umpire must keep the contesting clubs 
playing continuously from the beginning of the Game 
to its termination, allowing only such delays as are 
rendered unavoidable by accident, injury, or rain. He 
must, until the completion of the Game, require the 
players of each club to take their positions in the field 
promptly as soon as the third man of their club is put 



112 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

out, and must require the first striker of the opposing 
club to be in his position within the Batsman's Lines, 
as soon as the Fielders are in their places. 

Sec. 4. The Umpire shall count and call every Un- 
fair Ball (and every Dead Ball, if it be also an Unfair 
Ball) a Ball, and he shall count and call every Strike ; 
but neither a Ball nor a Strike shall be counted or 
called until the ball has passed the Home-base. He 
shall also call every Dead Ball, Foul Hit, Foul Strike, 
Block-ball, Balk, Illegal Delivery, and call " Batter 
Out," if necessary, under Rule 45, Sec. 9. 

(The old Rule contained no mention of an Illegal 
Delivery. And the clause, " Unfair Ball delivered by 
the Pitcher," is needlessly long ; every Unfair Ball is, 
by definition (Rule 31), " delivered by the Pitcher." 

Calling " Play " and »' Time." 

Rule 57. The Umpire must call " Play " promptly 
at the hour designated by the home-club ; and, on the 
call of "Play," the Game must begin immediately. 
When he calls " Time," play shall be suspended until 
he calls " Play " again, and, during the interim, no 
player shall be put out, base be run or run be scored. 
The Umpire shall suspend play only for an accident to 
himself or a player (but, in case of accident to a 
Fielder, " Time " shall not be called until the ball be 
returned to, and held by, the Pitcher touching the 
Pitcher's Plate) ; or in case a person not engaged in 
the Game retain possession of the ball or throw it, as 
described in Rule 35, Sec. 3 ; or in case rain fall so 
heavily as to make the conditions unfit for ball-play- 
ing, in which case he shall note the time of suspension 
and, should rain continue to fall for thirty minutes 
thereafter, or should the field in his opinion become 
unfit for subsequent ball-playing, before thirty minutes 
have expired, he shall terminate the Game ; or to en- 
force order in case of annoyance from the spectators. 

(*' Pitcher touching the Pitcher's Plate " has been 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 113 

substituted for " Pitcher standing in his position " in 
the old Rule, for the reason previously given, Rule 35, 
Sec. 3, and elsewhere. 

Among the occasions for suspension of play, the old 
Rule failed to mention that in Rule 35, Sec. 3. 

Seeking shelter on the part of the spectators is a 
rather poor criterion for determining the suspension of 
the Game. Partisan crowds on the uncovered stands 
are apt to hold their places, if so doing will aid the 
home-club, and start a stampede if it will not. And 
crowds in general are apt to linger after the conditions 
are unsuitable for playing. The old Rule is largely a 
question of umbrellas ; while the revision turns on the 
Umpire's opinion of the slipperiness of the ball and the 
wetness of the field. 

The old Rule would seem to indicate that, after 
rain had begun to fall and play had been suspended, 
the Umpire could not legally terminate the Game 
short of thirty minutes ; it is needless to say that five 
minutes of rain might make further play out of the 
question, and that the Umpire could terminate the 
Game at once. Account of this has been taken in 
the revision, so that the Game can be terminated at 
any time. 

Rule 58. After the Game has been interrupted by 
rain or otherwise, and " Time " called, the Umpire 
shall be sole judge of the moment when, if at all, the 
conditions are suitable for resuming the Game. 

(Old Rule 58 has been omitted and the new Rule 
above put in its place. The old Rule was simply an 
attempt to repeat the instances mentioned in Rule 57 
when " Time " could be called, but it omitted the last 
one. Rule 57, on the other hand, omitted one of the 
cases (Rule 35, Sec. 3), under which "Time" may be 
called. Neither Rule was complete. But all the in- 
stances have been included in new Rule 57, and the 
number 58 is left available for an entirely new Rule. 
The latter makes a positive statement to the effect that 



114 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

the Umpire shall decide about resutnmg a Game ; old 
Rule 57 told only about his suspending play and ter- 
minating a Game. If, for instance, rain continued for 
ten minutes and then ceased, there was nothing in 
Rule 57 (or elsewhere), telling who should decide on 
the fitness of conditions for resuming play ; and it 
might have been supposed that the Captains, or at 
least the Captain of the home-club (who, by Rule 28, 
decides at the beginning of a Game), had some power 
in the matter. The true state of affairs was doubtless 
rather generally understood ; but old Rule 57, as it 
read, was certainly not a clear exposition of common 
(and presumably legal) practice.) 

Infliction of Fines. 

Rule 59. The Umpire is empowered to inflict on a 
player or manager a fine of not less than Five dollars 
nor more than Twenty-five dollars for a first offense 
during a Game, as follows. 

Sec. 1. For vulgar, indecent or improper conduct 
or language. 

Sec. 2. For wilfully failing while coacher to remain 
in the coacher's position (Rule 6), except he be the 
Captain or representative of the Captain (Rule 16), 
and appeal from a decision of the Umpire on account 
of an alleged misinterpretation of the Rules. 

(The Rule has been revised to include an appeal 
from a representative of the Captain when the latter 
is a base-runner.) 

Sec. 3. For disobedience of any other of his orders 
or for any other violation of these Rules. 

Sec. 4. The Secretary, immediately on notification 
by the Umpire that a fine has been imposed upon a 
player or manager, shall notify forthwith the person 
so fined, and also the club of which he is a member ; 
and in the event of failure of the person so fined to 
pay the Secretary the amount of said fine within 
five days of receipt of the notice, he shall be debarred 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 115 

from participation in any championship-game until 
such fine is paid. 

Sec. 5. The Umpire may remove a player from the 
playing-field for a violation of Sees. 1, 2, and 3 of this 
Rule, in addition to fining him ; but, under no circum- 
stances, shall he remove a player for a violation of 
Sec. 2 of this Rule, except upon a repetition of the 
offense named therein. 

(Sec. 4 of the old Rule refers to fines upon managers, 
while the first sentence of the Rule says notiiing about 
them. The revised Rule, therefore, reads, ^' inflict on 
a player or manager." 

The old limits for fines — $5 and $25 — have been 
restored. Twenty-five dollars is unreasonably large 
for a minimum fine, since a much smaller sum is quite 
sufficient as a corrective for some players and as a fine 
for minor oifenses ; and the size of the larger sum 
must result in the Umpire not applying the Rule at 
all, when a smaller fine is actually needed. The result 
in practice of the larger fine seems to have been to 
lessen the resort to it, without diminishing the offenses, 
and to invoke the aid of the club-treasury for those 
who failed to escape it.) 

Field-Rules. 

Rule 60. No club shall allow open betting or pool- 
selling upon its Ground, nor in any building owned or 
occupied by it. 

Rule 61. No person shall be allowed upon any part 
of the playing-field, during a Game, in addition to 
players in uniform, the Umpire and the manager of 
each club (who must remain on the Players' Bench), 
except such officers of the law as may be present in 
uniform, and such officials of the home-club as may be 
necessary to preserve the peace. 

(Managers, unless in uniform and thus " players," 
are restricted to the Players' Bench ; the old Rule 
failed to state what part of the playing-field they might 
occupy.) 



116 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Rule 62. No Umpire, manager, Captain or player 
shall address the spectators, during a Game, except in 
case of necessary explanation. 

Rule 63. Every club shall furnish sufficient police- 
force upon its own Ground to preserve order, and, in 
the event of a crowd entering the playing-field during 
a Game, and interfering with the play in any manner, 
the visiting club may refuse to play further, until the 
field be cleared. If the field be not cleared within 
fifteen minutes thereafter, the visiting club may claim, 
and shall be entitled to, the Game by a score of nine 
runs to none (no matter what number of innings have 
been played). 

General Definitions. 

Rule 64. " Play " is the order of the Umpire to 
begin the Game, or to resume play after its suspension. 

Rule 65. "Time" is the order of the Umpire to 
suspend play. Such suspension must not extend be- 
yond the day of the game. 

Rule 66. "Game" is the announcement by the 
Umpire that the game is terminated. 

Rule 67. An Inning is a turn at batting of one club, 
and is completed when three of its players have been 
put out in any manner provided in these Rules. 

("Turn at batting " has been substituted for "term 
at bat " in the old Rule, which was too similar in sound 
and suggestion to " Time at Bat " in the next Rule ; 
and, in fact, " Time at Bat " is there defined as " term 
at bat." But it is quite possible for an Inning to 
occur which contains no "term at bat"; three suc- 
cessive batsmen, for example, might reach First Base 
on four Balls but be put out while base-runners, be- 
fore any batsman had finished a " Time at Bat." Ac- 
cording to the old Rule, however, a " term at bat " 
seems to form a necessary part of an Inning. The 
framer of the Rule probably understood what an In- 
ning was ; but his description of it is open to objection.) 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 117 

Rule 68. A Time-at-bat is the term at bat of a 
batsman. It begins when he takes his position within 
the Batsman's Lines and ends when he is put out ; or 
when he becomes a base-runner, except after four 
Balls, an Illegal Delivery, a Sacrifice-hit or being hit 
by a pitched ball. 

(The old Rule failed to include the instance of four 
Balls. And the use of the term, Sacrifice-hit, is suffi- 
cient, without attempting (as the old Rule does) to 
describe it ; it is defined in Rule 70, Sec. 4. 

Nor is it always possible to determine whether the 
Sacrifice-hit is " purposely made " ; for the batsman 
may have aimed to make a base-hit out of his Bunt-hit, 
but may have succeeded only in advancing a base-run- 
ner, at the expense of an out to himself. But, as far as 
appearances go in a case like this, it would often be im- 
possible to tell what the original purpose of the batsman 
was. But his purpose as to whether he intended to 
be put out or not is of no consequence in determining 
whether a Time-at-bat shall be recorded or not ; for 
the fact that he has made a Bunt-hit (which, by defi- 
nition in Rule 40, is iiitentional) and that, in conse- 
quence of it, another base-runner has advanced, while 
he alone has been put out, is sufficient ground for 
giving him the reward intended in the Rule, viz., ex- 
emption from charge of Time-at-bat. Moreover, the 
best type of Sacrifice-hit is a Bunt-hit which cannot 
fail to advance a base-runner and which also stands a 
chance of being a base-hit for the batsman. The bats- 
man should, in general, aim at both results ; and, if he 
do no more than advance a base-runner, he should 
have the credit without question. There have un- 
doubtedly been too many studied attempts to be put 
out while advancing a base-runner, and the batsman 
has so frequently gone through the process of sacri- 
ficing in such a resigned manner that there has arisen 
a cry that " sacrificing has been overdone." Over- 
done in quantity, perhaps, but not in quality. Success- 



118 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

ful bunting requires great skill and, from results, it 
would seem that there are still a great many batsmen 
who think the art requires little or no practice and that 
they will always be equal to the occasion " when the 
time comes.") 

Rule 68A. A Fly-ball is any batted ball other than 
those which go directly to, and roll along, the ground. 

(The new definition is perhaps rendered necessary 
by the use of the undefined term, '' Fly-ball," in 
Rule 45, Sec. 9 — the anti-double-play Rule. A Fly- 
ball is apt to be regarded as a batted ball which rises 
from the bat and is in the air a considerable time be- 
fore it drops within reach. There are, however, cer- 
tain batted balls passing through the air which go 
nearly on a line but with no great force, which a 
Fielder might refuse to catch but yet quickly recover, 
after the ball touched the ground. The definition in 
Rule 68A calls all such hits Fly-balls, and aims to 
prevent all manipulations whatsoever.) 
• Rule 68B. A Wild Pitch shall be the delivery by 
the Pitcher of a ball touching neither the batsman nor 
his bat which the Catcher cannot handle cleanly, on 
account of its being out of his reach or striking the 
ground. 

(This and the two following Rules are new ; it is 
desirable that no terms be left undefined in the Rules 
except perhaps such as would be perfectly obvious in 
meaning to anyone unfamiliar with the game.) 

Rule G8C. A Passed Ball is the failure of the 
Catcher while playing close to the Home-base to hold 
a pitched ball (not touching the batsman or his bat, 
and not a Wild Pitch), which permits a base-runner to 
advance one or more bases. 

Rule 68D. The term. Fielder, in these Rules shall 
mean any player of a club when taking its turn in the 
field as distinguished from at bat. 

Rule 69. " Legal " or " legally " signifies " as re- 
quired by these Rules." 






the victor baseball guide. 119 

Scoring. 

Rule 70. In order to promote uniformity in scoring 
championship-games, the following instructions, sug- 
gestions, and definitions are made for the benefit of 
official scorers, and they are required to make all 
scores in accordance therewith. 

('* Official " has been inserted before " scorers " ; 
other scorers can hardly be " required " to follow the 
Rule.) 

Batting. 

Sec. 1. The first item in the tabulated score, after 
the player's name and fielding-position, shall be his 
Times-at-bat as defined in Rule 68. 

(The attempt in the old Rule to enumerate the cases 
where a Time-at-bat is not charged resulted in the 
omission of the instance of Sacrifice-hits ; reference 
to Rule 68 is briefer and sufficient.) 

Sec. 2. In the second column, should be set down 
the Runs made by each player. 

Sec. 3. In the third column, should be placed the 
Base-hits made by each player. A Base-hit should be 
scored in the following cases. 

When a batted ball strikes Fair Ground out of reach 
of the Fielders, thus permitting the batsman to reach 
First Base. 

When a batted ball is partially or wholly stopped by 
a Fielder in motion who cannot recover himself in 
time to have the batsman put out at First Base. 

When a batted ball is hit so swiftly to an infielder 
that he cannot handle it in time to have the batsman 
put out before reaching First Base. In case of doubt 
over this class of batted balls, a Base-hit should be 
scored and the Fielder exempted from an error. 

When a batted ball is hit so slowly toward a Fielder 
that he cannot handle the ball in lime to have the 
batsman put out before reaching First Base. 

When a base-runner (except the batsman who has 



120 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

become a base-runner) is declared out for being hit by 
a batted ball. 

(It would be absurd to have the batsman credited 
with a base-hit and charged with an out, on the same 
batted ball. The old Rule failed to make this excep- 
tion as above.) 

When a batted ball hits the person or clothing of 
the Umpire standing on Fair Ground, as in Rule 48, 
Sec. 5. 

(It should be understood that no Base-hit is to be 
scored in case of batted balls which fall to the ground 
between, or in the vicinity of, two or more Fielders on 
account of a misunderstanding as to which one was to 
try to catch it ; such a batted ball is not " out of reach 
of the Fielders," as defined above.) 

Sec. 4. In the fourth column, shall be recorded 
each Sacrifice-hit, which shall be credited to the bats- 
man who, when less than two men are out, advances 
a base-runner a base, by a Bunt-hit which results in 
the putting out of the batsman only, or would so 
result were it not for an error. 

(The old Rule defines a Sacrifice-hit as "a bunt 
sacrifice-hit," thus almost defining a term by the same 
term. 

It should be noted that a Bunt-hit has already been 
defined (Rule 40) as "an attempt by a batsman to 
place a slowly-moving Fair Hit within the Infield," 
etc. The idea of intent or purpose which must be 
intimately associated with every Sacrifice -hit is con- 
veyed by the word " attempt." It is essential to a 
Sacrifice-hit that the Bunt-hit should be intentional, 
but it is not essential that the batsman shall have 
aimed and intended to be put out on that Bunt-hit, as 
already explained in the comment on Rule 68.) 

Fielding. 

Sec. 5. The number of opponents put out by each 
player shall be placed in the fifth column. When a 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 121 

batsman is declared out for a Foul Strike or for failing 
to bat in proper order, the out shall be credited to the 
Catcher ; and, whenever a batsman is declared out by 
Rule 45, Sec. 9, the out shall be credited to the 
Pitcher. 

(The last sentence is new. It is perhaps fitting 
that the Pitcher should have the credit of the out, if 
he effects the hitting of a *' pop-fly " when players are 
on bases waiting to advance.) 

Sec. 6. In the sixth column, shall be set down the 
number of times a player " assists." An Assist should 
be given to each player who handles or assists in 
any manner in handling the ball from the time it 
leaves the bat until it reaches the player who makes 
the put-out ; or, in case of a thrown ball, to each 
player who throws or handles it cleanly and in such a 
manner that an out results or would result, if no error 
were made. In general, an assist should be credited 
to a player who makes a play in time to put a base- 
runner out, even if the players who could complete the 
play fails through no fault of the player assisting. 
The Pitcher shall be credited with an Assist whenever 
a third Strike is declared in accordance with Rule 43, 
Sees. 1, 2, 5, or 6. 

(The last sentence has been added to the old Rule 
which did not refer clearly, if at all, to the strike-outs 
effected by the Pitcher.) 

Errors. 

Sec. 7. In the seventh column, shall be placed the 
number of Errors made by each Fielder. An Error 
shall be any failure to put out a player when the 
chance is offered, or any misplay which allows a base- 
runner to advance one or more bases. 

(The old Rule was so worded that a Foul Hit, not 
caught, was not an Error unless the batsman subse- 
quently reached First Base, thus having advanced a 
base on the muffed Fly-ball. But every misplay 



122 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

should be called an Error, and the revised Rule reads 
to that effect. In the instance cited, a catch would 
hasten the game and lessen the Pitcher's work. Fur- 
thermore, the new Rule does not exclude from the 
error-column Passed Balls by the Catcher and Wild 
Pitches, bases on Balls, Illegal Deliveries, Balks or 
cases of batsman hit by a pitched ball — misplays by 
the Pitcher. It is the duty of the Pitcher and Catcher 
to avoid these misplays, and their skill and efficiency 
is largely estimated by their ability to do so. It 
should be possible to see the record of their successes 
and failures, by rapidly running the eye along the 
proper horizontal line of figures in the tabulated 
score. It is of no consequence that the total of the 
error-column would thus be considerably increased as a 
rule ; because the score should show facts. Nor does 
it matter that the Pitcher and Catcher would usually 
be charged with more errors than players in other 
positions ; for they are to be judged by independent 
standards. Removal of these plays to an inconspicu- 
ous place in the closely-printed summary under the 
tabulated score partially conceals the short-comings of 
some players, and one incentive to improvement is 
thus removed ; this transfer to the summary is also 
unfair to the better Pitchers and Catchers, who are 
brought down toward the level of the inferior ones, in 
proportion as the misplays of the latter are less glar- 
ingly recorded.) 

Sec. 8. A Stolen Base shall be scored in the fol- 
lowing cases, 

Whenever the base-runner advances a base unaided 
by an error or by the batsman. 

Whenever he advances more than one base on a 
base-hit by another player; or on a caught Fly-Ball ; 
or on an Infield-out (or attempted out), provided 
there is, in each case, a possible chance and an actual 
attempt to put him out. 

(According to the old Rule, a Stolen Base is simply 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 123 

an attempt to steal a base regardless of assistance de- 
rived from an Error. While it is only too true that 
every effort should be made to improve and encourage 
base-running, the number of base-runners must be 
very small, if any, who are led to make a start from 
estimating that an Error is likely to be made and that 
they will thus obtain credit for a Stolen Base; for a 
base-runner will usually run, without any inducement 
like this, if he thinks that an Error of some kind is 
probable (always assuming that stealing a base is the 
proper move to make at the time). And whether any 
player is thus induced to start or not, it certainly seems 
like a falsification of the score to credit a player with 
something he has not accomplished according to long- 
established ideas. For the term " Stolen Base" usually 
suggests the idea of a base gained solely by a base- 
runner's efforts and skill, and rightly so. Moreover, to 
score a Stolen Base, as the old Rule permits, when a 
base-ruimer slides beyond the base and is put out, is 
not only to excuse carelessness or lack of skill but also 
to reward it. Starting and arriving are the two criti- 
cal acts and the main tests of skill; the Rule, therefore, 
should contain nothing tending to condone what are 
usually slipshod finishes and thus lower the standard. 
The old Rule is adapted to improving the base-running 
on paper rather than in fact. The revision, therefore, 
excludes cases where the base-runner is aided by Errors 
or overruns a base and is put out. 

If there is a real desire to encourage and improve 
base-running, an extremely effective way would be to 
enforce the Balk Rule, as here revised or as it reads in 
any code of Rules for many years passed ; and perhaps 
more important still. Rule 29 regarding the Pitcher's 
position and delivery of the ball, particularly the por- 
tion which, in the revision at least, requires a distinct 
pause, after feinting to throw to a base, before deliver- 
ing the ball to the batsman.) 



124 the victor baseball guide. 

Eakned Runs. 

Sec. 9. An Earned Run shall be scored every time 
a base-runner makes a Run as in Rule 53, unaided by 
Errors and before chances have been offered to put out 
the side. 

(Reference to Rule 53 is necessary for precision. 
The old Rule reads, " every time the player reaches 
home base," etc. Not every time ; he may have been 
seen to " cut " a base by the Umpire, he may have 
passed another base-runner in the base-line, etc.) 

The Summary. 

Rule 71. The Summary shall contain, 

Sec. 1. The number of Earned Runs made by each 
club. 

Sec. 2. The names of the players making two-base 
hits and the number made by each. 

Sec. 3. The names of the players making three- 
base hits and the number made by each. 

Sec. 4. The names of the players making home- 
runs and the number made by each. 

Sec. 5. The number of players on whom three 
Strikes were called and the names of these players. 

('^Number of men struck out," in the old Rule, is 
liable to mislead ; the score should show, as an indi- 
cation of the Pitcher's skill and the batsman's lack of 
it, on how many players three Strikes have been called, 
without regard to whether these players were struck 
out or not.) 

Sec. 6. The number of bases on Balls and the names 
of the players who received them. 

(The old Rule does not include the names of the 
players, but it is often desirable to know them.) 

Sec. 7. The number of players hit by a pitched ball 
and their names. 

(The names have been included here as in Sec. 6.) 

Sec. 8. The names of the players who have stolen 
bases and the number stolen by each. 






THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 135 

Sec. 9. The number of double plays andtriple plays 
made by each club and the names of tha players tak- 
ing part in them. 

Sec. 10. The number of Passed Balls by each 
Catcher. 

Sec. 11. The number of Wild Pitches by each 
Pitcher. 

Sec. 12. All other entries which are necessary to 
make a complete synopsis of the events of the Game. 

(This new Section refers to the less usual occur- 
rences such as failure to bat in turn, Foul Strike, inter- 
ference with a Fielder, failure to run in the three-foot 
lane, etc.) 

Sec. 13. The duration of the Game. 

Sec. 14. The name of the Umpire. 

(The sections of this Rule have been rearranged so as 
to group, at the beginning, those pertaining to batting 
and base-running, followed by those pertaining to 
fielding.) 



126 THE VICTOR BASJffiALL GUIDE. 



INDEX. 



Rule. Section. 

Appeal, Umpire shall not wait for, ..... 61 

By Captains only, ... = .... 66 1 

Assist, defined ; scoring of, 70 6 

Balk, defined, 32 1,2 

Ball, The, weight and size, 14 1 

Number for use, . 14 2 

Property of winner, 14 3 

Certified by Secretary, ...... 14 3 

When unfit for use, 14 4 

In play after Foul Hit, etc. , .... 34 
Batted outside of Ground, . . . . 41, 42 

Fair, definition of, 30 

Unfair, definition of, 31 

Dead, definition of, 33 

Block, definition of, etc. , 35 1-3 

Passed, definition of, 68C 

" recorded in Summary, ..... 71 10 

Pitched, hit by, recorded in Summary, . . 71 7 

Bases, The, position and size, 9 

First, Second and Third, material, . 12 

Home-base, material and arrangement, 11 

Order and manner of touching, . . 47 

Returning to, 49 

Base-runner entitled to, 48 

Stolen, defined, 70 8 

'' recorded in Summary, 71 8 

On Balls, 71 6 

Base-hits, defined ; recorded in tabulated score, . 70 3 
Base-runner, 
Is out. 

Interfering with Catcher after third Strike, 60 1 

Caught Fair Hit, 60 2 

Caught third Strike, 60 3 

Touched before reaching First Base, . . 60 4 

Thrown out at First Base, 60 5 

Failure to run within Three-foot Lines, . 60 6 

Running three feet out of base-line, , . 60 7 

Interfering with a Fielder, 60 8 

Touched off a base, 60 9 

Return on caught Fly-ball, 60 10 

Forced out, 50 11 

Hit by batted ball, 60 12 

Failure to touch bases, 60 13 

Return after Foul Hit not caught, or "Time," 50 14 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 127 



INDEX— Continued. 

Rule. Section. 

For interference of preceding base-runner, 50 15 

Without appeal, 51 

Hit by batted ball, Base-hit scored, ... 70 3 

Substitute for, 27 3 

May run without being put out, .... 35 2 

Hold base on Block-ball, 35 3 

Entitled to take one base, 48 

Returning to bases, 49 

Bat, The, material and dimensions, 15 

Batsman, 

Batsman's Lines, 10 

Order of batting 36 

May occupy part of Catcher's territory, . 37 2 
Is out. 

Failing to bat in turn, 45 1 

Failing to appear within one minute. 45 2 

Caught Foul Fly, .45 3 

Foul Strike, 45 4 

Interference with Catcher, .... 45 5 
Three Strikes called when base-run- 
ner is at First Base, ..... 45 6 
Intentional Foul H it after two Strikes, 45 7 
Hit by pitched ball on third Strike, . 45 8 

To prevent double play, 45 9 

Foul Hit on Bunt-hit after two 

Strikes, 45 10 

Without appeal, 51 

Becomes a base-runner, ..... 46 

Batting, scoring of, 70 1-4 

Betting, forbidden, 60 

Captain, must be playing in the Game, .... 16 

Must not address the spectators, ... 62 

Captain's and Coachers' Lines, ... 6 
Catcher, The, • 

His glove, etc. , 19 2 

His territory, 37 2 

Catcher's Lines, 4 

" *' enclose space for three 

men, 37 2 

Coacher, 

Position to be occupied, . . . . 6, 37, 52 

Expelled from game, 52 

Restricted language, 52 

Number of coachers, 37 1 

"• " " 52 

Crowd, entering field, 63 



128 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



INDEX— Continued. 

Rule. Section. 

Delivery, Illegal, defined, 29A 

Diamond, The, to lay out, 2 

Double play, scored in Summary, 71 9 

Error, defined ; scoring Errors, 70 7 

Fair Ground, defined, 38 

Field, The, who shall occupy, . 61 

Field-Rules, 60-63 

Fielder, defined, 68D 

Fielding, scoring of, 70 6-7 

Fines, infliction of, 69 1-5 

Notification of to Secretary, 69 4 

If not paid, 69 4 

First Baseman, size of glove, etc., 19 2 

Fitness of Ground for beginning Game, .... 28 

'' " " '* continuing Game, ... 68 

Foul Ground, defined, 39 

Foul Lines, to lay out, 3 

Foul Strike, defined, ' .... 44 

Foul Tip, defined, ... 39 

Game, The, 

Time for beginning, 21 1 

Number of Innings to constitute, . . 21 2 

Tie-game, 22 

Drawn Game, 23 

Duration of, recorded in Summary, . . 71 13 

Called Game, 24 

Forfeited Game, 26, 63 

No Game, 26 

Gloves, size, etc., 19 2 

Ground, The, 

Description, 1 

Fitness of for beginning play, .... 28 

" '' *' continuing ^' .... 68 

Hit, Fair, defined, • 38 

Foul, " 39 

Bunt, " 40 

Base, '* and place in tabulated score, 70 3 

Two-base, recorded in Summary, .... 71 2 

Three-base, 71 3 

Sacrifice, defined ; place in tabulated score, 70 6 

Home-Run, base-runners entitled to, .... 42 

Recorded in Summary, 71 4 

Home-base, material and arrangement, .... 11 

Infield, The, to lay out, 2 

Inning, choice of, 28 

Definition of, 67 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 189 



INDEX— Continued. 

Rule. Section. 

Judge of fitness of Ground for beginning a game, 28 

Legal, defined, 69 

Lines, 

Foul, 3 

Catcher's, 4 

Players', 5 

Captain's and Coachers', 6 

Three-foot, 7 

Batsman's, 10 

Marked with chalk, etc. , 13 

Manager, shall not go on playing-field, .... 66 1 

Pines upon, 59 4 

Shall not address spectators, .... 66 1 

****** " .... 62 

Shall remain on Players' Bench, . . 66 1 

(( u a i( a Q-^ 

Order to be preserved, 63 

Outs, recorded in tabulated score, 70 5 

Pitch, Wild, defined, 68B 

Recorded in Summary, .... 71 11 

Pitcher, The, position in field, 17 

Delivery of ball, 29 

Pitcher's Plate, position and size, . 8 

Plate, Pitcher's, position and size, 8 

** Play,'' when called, etc., . 57 

Defined, 64 

Play, double, and triple ; recorded in Summary, 71 9 

Ball in, 34 

Players, The, number of in a Game, 16 

Their positions, 17 

Shall not sit among the spectators, 18 

Must be in uniform, 19 1 

Device for sole of shoe, .... 19 1 

Their gloves, 19 2 

Their Benches, position, etc., . . 20 

Must remain on Players' Bench, . 37 1 

Must not cross Catcher's territory, 37 2 

Must, when at bat, avoid Fielders, 37 3 

Removal from playing-field, . . 69 5 

Shall not address spectators, . . 62 

Players' Lines, 5 

Players' Benches, 20 

Pool-selling, forbidden, 60 

Put-outs, recorded in the tabulated score, ... 70 5 

Removal of players, 62 

** ** ** 69 6 



130 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



INDEX— Continued. 

Rule. Section. 

Eun, defined, 53 

Place in tabulated score, 70 2 

Earned, defined, . . . , 70 9 

'' recorded in Summary, .... 71 1 
Sacrifice-hit, defined ; recorded in tabulated 

score, 70 4 

Scoring, general Rules for, 71, 72 

Time-at-bat, 70 1 

Kuns, 70 2 

Base-hits, place in score ; defined, . . 70 3 

Sacrifice-hits, place in score ; defined, . 70 4 

Put-outs, 70 5 

Assists, place in score ; defined, ... 70 6 

Errors, place in score ; defined, ... 70 7 

Stolen Bases, defined, 70 8 

Earned Runs, defined, 70 9 

Summary, 71 

Earned Runs, ........ 71 1 

Two-base hits, ........ 71 2 

Three-base hits, 71 3 

Home-runs, 71 4 

Three Strikes called on batsman, . . 71 6 

Bases on Balls, 71 6 

Hit by pitched ball, 71 7 

Stolen Bases, 71 8 

Passed Balls, 71 9 

Wild Pitches, 71 10 

Other entries, 71 11 

Duration of Game, 71 12 

Name of Umpire, 71 13 

Shoes of players, non-slipping devices on, ... 19 1 

Strike, defined, 43 

Eoul, defined, 44 

*' scoring to credit of Catcher, ... 70 5 

Substitutes, one or more for each Game, ... 27 1 

May be introduced at any timp, . . 27 2 

For a base-runner, 27 3 

Three-foot Lines, defined 7 

"Time,'' when called, 57 

Called in case of Block-Ball, .... 35 3 

Defined, 65 

Tie-game, defined, 22 

Time-at-bat, defined, 68 

Recorded in tabulated score, . . 70 1 

Triple play, scored in Summary, 71 9 

Umpire, The, shall not be changed, 54 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 131 



INDEX— Continued. 

Rule. Section. 

Umpire, The, 

Shall be master of the field, ... 55 1 

Has absolute power, 55 2 

Appealed to by Captains only, *. . 56 1 

On Ground-Rules, etc., .... 56 2 

Must compel continuous playing, . 56 3 

Must call every Ball, Strike, etc., . 56 4 

Calling ' ' Play " and ^ ' Time, ' ' . . 57 
Judge of fitness of field, after Game 

has begun, 58 

Inflicting fines, .59 1-3 

Must notify Secretary of fines, . . 59 4 

Removing player in addition to fine, 59 5 

Shall not address spectators, . . 62 

Hit by batted ball, Base-hit scored, 70 3 

Name of, in Summary, .... 71 14 

Wild Pitch, defined, 68B 

Recorded in Summary, 71 11 



132 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

A SERIES OF QUESTIONS 

BASED ON THE 

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY. 



A thorough knowledge of the Rules even among 
players and persons long familiar with the game is 
much rarer than is perhaps generally supposed, and 
the following questions have been prepared with a 
view to offering a test of knowledge of the Rules and 
of their application to points of play in a game. As 
a decision based on a mere impression or personal be- 
lief would be by no means satisfactory on a contested 
point in a game, the answers should be coupled, in 
every instance, with the substance at least of the 
Rule or Rules which pertain to the case. If no such 
Rule exists, this fact should be positively known. 
Furthermore, there should be the ability to answer with 
considerable promptness ; for, in case of Umpire, Cap- 
tain or player at least, there is little time for delibera- 
tion. Nor should it be necessary to consult the 
Rules themselves for assistance ; the Umpire can 
seldom do it with dignity : the Captain who fumbles 
through the Guide is apt to make his point just after 
the Umpire has spoken (he often speaks wrong and 
even knows it as he speaks ; but experience unfortu- 
nately has taught him to speak but once, or, if he 
speaks again, simply to repeat) ; and the player, in 
lieu of the Guide, reflects and is put out while he 
thinks. 

The answers, however, have been appended for final 
consultation and comparison. 



1 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 133 

1. With two men out, A hits a grounder which is 
fielded to, and held at, First Base, after he passes that 
base and after a base-runner from Third Base touches 
Home-base. A, however, is declared out for failing 
to touch First Base. It is claimed that the Run counts, 
as it was made before the third man was put out. 
Does it count ? 

2. A base-runner starts from First Base for Second 
Base and, as the first pitched ball hits the batsman 
and rolls away, reaches Third Base. The base-runner 
then returns through the Diamond by the Pitcher's 
Plate to First Base. The ball is thrown to Second 
Base and the base-runner claimed out. Is he out ? 

3. A batted ball strikes the Pitcher on the foot and 
hits a base-runner as he passes over, and is in contact 
with. Second Base. Another base-runner reaches 
Home-base after the first base-runner is hit. Does 
this count as a Run, there being two out before the ball 
was struck ? 

4. A base-runner at First Base does not return and 
touch that base, after a Foul Hit which is not caught, 
but remains standing some six feet away from First 
Base. On receiving the next pitched ball, the Catcher 
quickly throws to the First Baseman standing on his 
base, while the base-runner reaches Second Base in 
safety. It is claimed that the base-runner is out. Is 
he out, and why ? 

5. With the bases full, two men out and the score 
5-5, in the last half of the ninth inning, a batted ball 
hits the Umpire on the leg while standing behind the 
Pitcher ; and the Second Baseman holds the ball on 
Second Base ahead of a base-runner from First Base. 
A base-runner from Third Base reaches Home-base on 
the play. What is the score now ? 

6. Base-runners at First Base and at Second Base 
start to steal the next base; the Catcher throws to 
Second Base, as that is his only chance for an out, — 
the other base-runner being too far advanced toward 



134 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Third Base. The ball hits the Umpire standing back 
of the Pitcher's Plate. What decision should the 
Umpire give ? 

7. With two men on bases, two out, the score 5-3 
against the side at bat, in the last half of the ninth 
inning, a batsman makes a 100-yard Fair Hit over the 
fence, and two men score. The ball, which hit a post 
outside the fence and bounded into the Ground, is re- 
turned in time for the player who made the hit to be 
touched with it just before reaching Home-base. What 
is the score ? 

8. A batsman tries to make a Bunt-hit; the ball 
strikes Fair Ground and rolls over Home-base to Foul 
Ground. The Umpire calls " Foul Ball," but the Cap- 
tain of the side at bat maintains that there is no 
authority in the Rules for such a decision. Which is 
right ? 

9. Base-runners A, B and C are on First Base, 
Second Base and Third Base respectively with no one 
out. A, in running towards Second Base, is struck by 
a ball batted by D, and the Second Baseman gets the 
ball to First Base ahead of D. B and C reach Home- 
base on the play. What should be the Umpire's de- 
cision in full? 

10. Base-runners A and B are on First Base and 
Second Base respectively, with two men out. A long 
safe Hit is made and A, running much faster than B, 
overtakes and passes him between Home-base and 
Third Base touching Home-base just ahead of him. 
The Catcher touches A with the ball after he has 
passed the Home-base and just before B touches it. 
What is the score now, if it stood 2-0 against the 
side at bat when the hit was made ? 

11. Base-runners A and B are on Second Base and 
Third Base respectively. B starts for Home-base on 
a short Passed Ball and A runs to Third Base and 
holds it. B is caught between bases and, after running 
back and forth for a time, makes a final plunge for 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 135 

Third Base but is touched out with the ball. Base- 
runner A, holding Third Base at the moment the out 
is declared, and seeing B rushing toward him, suddenly 
starts for Second Base and reaches it in safety; but 
finds a base-runner from First Base already there. 
Both players are touched with the ball as they stand 
touching Second Base. What is the decision here ? 

12. With the bases full and two men out, a Fly- 
ball drops safely in front of the Center Fielder and 
two base-runners reach Home-base. After this, a base- 
runner at First Base (who " thought there was only 
one out ") gets under way for Second Base but is 
touched with the ball by a Fielder waiting for him in 
the base-line. Do the two runs count ? Would the 
decision be different if the ball had been held on Sec- 
ond Base before the arrival there of the base-runner 
from First Base ? 

13. With a base-runner on First Base, the batsman 
forces him out at Second Base, but the ball is not 
thrown to First Base, as there is no chance there for 
an out. The batsman, however, is claimed out for run- 
ning outside the Three-foot Lines. Is he out, grant- 
ing that the Umpire noticed his movements ? 

14. (a) Who decides upon the fitness of conditions 
for beginning a game ? Who, for continuing a game 
which has been interrupted ? 

(b) In case of dispute about the order of batting, 
who decides the question, and on what does the de- 
cision rest? 

15. (a) Under what conditions may a Stolen Base 
be credited after a caught Fly-ball ? Under these 
conditions, may a player be credited with a Stolen 
Base, if he advance a base after a Foul Fly is caught ? 

[b) If a base-runner barely scores from Second Base 
on a single Base-hit, is there any ground for scoring 
a Stolen Base ? 

(c) Name the ways, if any, in which a Stolen Base 
can be effected, exclusive of " steals " on the Catcher. 



136 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

16. [a) A batted ball is seen to hit a tall pole stand- 
ing outside the fence on Foul Ground, and bound 
towards, and disappear over, Fair Ground. Is this a 
Foul Hit or Fair Hit ? 

(b) A batted ball first hits the enclosing fence 
" fair " but bounds over the Foul Line ; the first 
ground which it touches is Foul Ground. Is this a 
Foul Hit or Fair Hit ? 

(c) A batted ball first touches Third Base on the 
part which happens to lie on Foul Ground, and rolls 
to Foul Ground. Is this a Foul Hit ? 

(d) A ball batted directly to the ground rolls along 
Foul Ground, finally passing over Third Base to Fair 
Ground. Is this a Fair Hit or Foul Hit ? 

(e) A Fly-Ball first hits the upper end of a long 
post fixed in Foul Ground but overhanging Fair 
Ground, and drops to Foul Ground. Is this a Fair 
Hit or Foul Hit ? 

17. Representing the players of a club and their 
order of batting by 1, 2, 3, . . . . 9, No. 2 bats 
when it is the turn of No. 1 ; with no one out, he is 
given a base on Balls. The Umpire's attention is then 
called to the error in order, by the Captain of the side 
in the field. What should his decision be ? Who 
bats next? 

18. With none out. No. 9 bats vrhen No. 8 should, 
and hits a Foul Fly, which is caught. The error in 
order is then discovered and reported to the Umpire, 
by the Captain of the side in the field. How many 
are now out ? Who is the next batsman ? 

19. With none out, No. 3 bats in the turn of No. 
2 and makes a Base-Hit. No. 4 then makes a Foul 
Hit which is not caught. It is claimed that one of 
these players is out. Which one is out and why ? 

20. No. 3 bats in the turn of No. 2 and is hit on the 
leg by a pitched ball in making the third Strike. It is 
then pointed out that No. 3 was out of turn. How many 
are out? Is the Pitcher credited with a strike-out 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 137 

or charged with hitting a batsman ? Who bats 
next ? 

21. The batsman, in making a Foul Hit (not 
caught), steps on the Home-base. What should the 
Umpire do, if anything ? 

22. A batted ball first hits a bat lying on Fair 
Ground near the Foul Line and strikes a base-runner 
who is standing near Third Base on Foul Ground. 
What is the full decision ? 

23. With the score 2-2, bases full and none out, 
the batsman in reaching for a curve accidentally steps 
on the Home-base and makes a Fair Hit which strikes 
a base-runner going toward Second Base ; and base- 
runners from Second Base and Third Base reach Home- 
base. How many are now out and what is the score ? 

24. Batsman No. 3 makes a Home-Run, after two 
are out, sending three players over the Home-base 
ahead of him. Just as the Pitcher is about to deliver 
the ball to the next batsman, the Captain of the side 
in the field claims that No. 3 took the turn of No. 2. 
An out is allowed. The Captain of the side at bat 
then maintains that there can be no question that at 
least three Runs are legal, or even four, because the 
base-runners crossed Home-base long before the third 
man was out. Is he right ? What is the score now ? 

25. In the last half of the ninth inning, with the 
score 0-0, one out, and base-runners on First Base 
and Third Base, the batsman makes his third Strike ; 
the ball escapes from the Catcher and rolls against the 
foot of the Umpire standing behind. The Catcher 
quickly recovers the ball and throws it to the Second 
Baseman in time for him to touch tlie base-runner from 
First Base before he reaches Second Base. The base- 
runner at Third Base reaches Home-base just after the 
other base-runner is touched at Second Base. The Cap- 
tain of the side at bat claims that the ball was a Dead 
Ball, and that the base-runner touched at Second Base 
was not out. Is this so ? What is the score now? 



138 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

26. With the bases full and none out, a base- 
runner standing erect, with both feet on Third Base, 
is hit by a line Fly-ball which is clearly going to Foul 
Ground, and finally drops there. This base-runner and 
another from Second Base reach Home-base, while the 
batsman reaches Second Base. What is the decision 
here ? 

27. Is it legal for an Umpire to call a base-runner 
out, without appeal, for running outside the Three- 
foot Lines ? May a Balk and an Illegal Delivery be 
declared without appeal ? What are the cases in 
which no decision may be given by the Umpire except 
on appeal? 

28. With base-runners at Second Base and Third 
Base, a batted ball hits the Umpire standing behind 
the Pitcher, and then a base-runner moving toward 
Third Base ; both base-runners reach Home-base in 
safety. If there were two out before the ball was 
struck, and the score 5-4 against the side at bat, what 
is the score now ? 

Under similar conditions, if the batted ball had 
struck the Pitcher, the Umpire and the base-runner 
from Second Base, in that order, and both base-run- 
ners had reached Home-base safely, what would the 
score have been ? 

29 (a) A player makes a hit good for a Home- 
Run, but the Umpire notices that he does not touch 
Second Base. The ball is returned to the Second 
Baseman, who, by chance, steps on Second Base as he 
walks in. The Umpire declares the player out who made 
the hit. Is this legal, no appeal having been made ? 

(b) A batsman strikes at, and misses, a pitched 
ball which hits the forward corner of the Home-base 
(which happens to protrude), and the ball rebounds to 
the Pitcher. A strong protest is made that this is not a 
Strike. Do the Rules offer any basis for this protest ? 

(c) How is a Block-ball defined ? Can a pitched 
ball become a Block-ball ? 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 1^9 

30. After a Foul Hit (not caught), a base-runner 
returns to First Base, but leaves it before the ball is 
held by the Pitcher touching the Pitcher's Plate. The 
Pitcher, still off the Plate, overthrows to First Base, 
and the base-runner goes to Second Base. But the 
Right Fielder recovers the ball and throv^s it to the 
Second Baseman, who touches the base-runner stand- 
ing on the base and claims an out. Is the player out ? 

31. With the score 1-0, in favor of the side in the 
field, in the first half of the ninth inning, one man out, 
base-runner A on First Base and base-runner B on 
Second Base, the batsman makes a Fair Hit along the 
right Foul Line ; A and B reach Home-base. The 
Umpire and the Pitcher of the side in the field having 
noticed that A failed to touch Second Base, and that 
the batsman did not touch First Base, the Pitcher 
runs and touches with the ball the batsman standing 
on Second Base and then the base, claiming the bats- 
man and A out. Has the Pitcher done the right 
thing ? What is the score ? 

32. In the last half of the ninth inning, with two 
men out, the score 10-8 against the side at bat and 
three men on bases, the batsman makes a Hit good 
for a Home-Run, sending in the base-runners. After 
the batsman has reached Home-base, the ball is thrown 
to First Base, and he is declared out for not touching 
that base. What is the score now, and why ? 

33. (a) With three runs necessary to win, the bases 
full and two out, in the last half of the ninth inning, a 
batsman makes a Hit good for a Home-Run. He 
overtakes the immediately preceding base-runner be- 
tween Third Base and Home-base and both base- 
runners cross the Home-base in proper order, in addi- 
tion to the two others who have already crossed, 
before the ball is returned to the Infield. But the 
batsman failed to touch Second Base and is declared 
out when the ball is sent there and held. Who wins 
the game ? 



140 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

(^) Under the same conditions, with four runs re- 
quired to win, the batsman reaches Home-base on his 
Fair Hit, but is given out, as before, for not touching 
Second Base, — the ball having been held at that base. 
But the Captain of the side at bat maintains that, 
under the conditions, all runs which crossed the Home- 
base, before the third man was given out, should 
count ; and that furthermore no out may be legally 
declared at Second Base, because the Game was then 
over when four base-runners had come in and the 
Umpire's jurisdiction had ceased. Is this so ? What 
is the score ? 

34. With base-runner A at First Base and B at 
Third Base, A runs unhindered to Second Base and 
touches it ; he then returns half way to First Base 
hoping an attempt will be made to run him down, 
allowing the other base-runner to score. Is A's plan 
a good one ? 

35, (a) A batsman knocks a Fly-ball (Foul Hit) 
which the Catcher muffs, and afterwards is thrown out 
in running to First Base. Should the Catcher be 
charged with an error or not ? Why ? 

(a) With the bases full and no one out, the bats- 
man knocks a Fly-ball (Fair Hit) which is muffed by 
the Pitcher. Is this an error, and why ? 

36. With two men out in the last half of the ninth 
inning, base-runners A at Second Base and B at Third 
Base, and the score 2-0 in favor of the visiting club, 
the side first at bat, the ball, on a missed Strike, es- 
capes from the Catcher, touches the Umpire and rolls 
towards the Catcher's fence. B reaches Home-base, 
while A is touched with the ball before touching the 
base, by the Pitcher standing at Home-base and re- 
ceiving the ball from the Catcher. The Captain of 
the home-club maintains that both A and B were en- 
titled to take one base and, as the ball was " dead," A 
is not out but may return to Third Base. Is this so ? 

37, (a) No. 3 is batting when No. 2 should. A 






THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 141 

base-runner takes Second Base on a Passed Ball and, 
on the next pitched ball, No. 3 strikes out. The Cap- 
tain of the side in the field now claims that No. 2 is 
out and the base-runner should return to First Base 
from Second Base. What is the decision ? 

(6) If, in the case above, the Umpire alone noticed 
the error in the order of batting, should he declare an 
out, if no appeal has been made ? 

38. The long-established order of batting in a club 
has been S, F, N, etc. (designating players by their 
initials), but their Captain, by mistake, writes the list 
F, S, N, etc., and hands it to the Umpire before the 
Game. In the Game, S bats when the list calls for F 
and makes a Base-hit, followed by F, who also makes 
a Base-hit. N is then claimed out for not batting in 
turn after S ; and F is also claimed out for failing to 
bat in turn before S. Are these claims valid ? Who 
is the next batsman ? 

39. A dispute arises in the third inning over the 
order of batting ; the Umpire remembers that the 
order followed in the first inning was A, C, B, etc. ; 
but B has just become a base-runner, having batted 
after A. On consulting the list handed him before 
the Game, the Umpire finds that the official order is 
A, B, C, etc. The Captain of the side in the field then 
says he must either have C out for not batting after A, 
according to the order followed at the start ; or B for 
not batting, in the first inning, after A, according to 
the official order. Which course should the Umpire 
pursue ? 

40. In the last half of the ninth inning, with one 
man out, bases full and the score 2-0 against the side 
at bat, base-runners A, B and C are on First Base, 
Second Base and Third Base respectively. The bats- 
man makes a Hit good for a Home-Run. After four 
men have crossed the Home-base, the ball is held at 
Second Base and A given out for not touching that 
base. How does the score stand now, and why ? 



142 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



ANSWERS. 



I 



1. The exact moment when the third man was put 
out in this case is of no importance ; the fact that he 
failed to legally hold First Base [i. 6., never reached 
it, in a legal sense) prevents any run being scored on 
the play. See Rule 53 and also the comment appended 
to revised Rule 53. 

2. The base-runner would be out if old Rule 47 is 
taken as it reads ; for it exempts the base-runner from 
re-touching all the bases only "on a foul hit." As 
the present instance is that of a Dead Ball, the base- 
runner would be out according to the letter of the old 
Rule. But it was never intended that a base-runner 
should be out in a case like this ; and, by revised 
Rule 47, he would not be. 

3. The Run counts because the batted ball hit a 
Fielder before touching the base-runner, and the latter 
is, therefore, not out. (Rule 50, Sec. 12.) 

4. The old Rules furnished no definite answer in a 
case like this. It might perhaps be inferred from 
Rule 50, Sec. 14, that the base-runner could not be 
put out after the ball, as in the present case, had been 
delivered to the batsman ; and new Sec. 14 to Rule 
50 states this positively, by including Foul Hits, not 
caught. The base-runner is not out and may remain 
at Second Base. 

An attempt was made in Rule 34 of the code of 1895 
to meet this situation, by declaring that the ball 
should not be in play, after a Foul Hit, not caught, 
until the Umpire had called " Play." This formality, 
however, was not practiced by Umpires ; it would have 
been necessary, in a case like that in Question 4 for 
the Umpire to call to the base-runner and order him 
to touch the base, and refuse to call " Play " until he 
did. This would be a fussy procedure of no value, 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 1^3 

because, in the present case, the base-runner gains no 
advantage, nor does the side in the field suffer any 
disadvantage by the base-runner's failure to re-touch 
the base, because he would be able to get a " lead " of 
five or six feet in any case. The base-runner in 1895, 
even if the Umpire had not called ** Play," perhaps 
had a right to assume that the ball was in play, if the 
Pitcher delivered the ball to the batsman ; at any 
rate, he could not afford to rest on the base, especially 
if the batsman happened to hit the pitched ball. 
The instances must have been very rare where a bats- 
man was called back or a pitched ball declared void, 
because the Umpire had not put the ball in play by 
calling " Play." The latter formality has been dropped 
from revised Rule 34. Practically speaking, it is not 
necessary that a base-runner should actually re-touch 
a base ; to return to the vicinity of it is sufficient. 
But he, of course, incurs more than usual risk of 
being put out, up to the time the Pitcher delivers the 
ball to the batsman ; he may be put out by a quick 
throw, without being touched. 

5. The score is 6-5 in favor of the side last at bat ; 
each base-runner (including the batsman who has be- 
come a base-runner) may take one base, by Rule 48, 
Sec. 5. 

6. By Rule 49, Sec. 4, both base-runners should re- 
turn to their bases. It would seem like an injustice, 
however, to send back the base-runner who has stolen 
Third Base without being aided in the least by the 
Umpire's interference with the thrown ball, and, in 
fact, was so near Third Base, before the ball was 
thrown, that it was useless to try to get him out. 
But it would seem better to have a uniform applica- 
tion of a definite, inflexible Rule than to " leave it to 
the discretion of the Umpire " for numerous modifica- 
tions and applications to special cases, most of which 
would be attended with a general debate on the merits 
of the case. 



144 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

7. The score is 6-5 in favor of the side last at bat. 
See Rule 42. The fact that a Fair Hit "goes over the 
fence" entitles a batsman to a Home-Run; the Rule 
says nothing about balls which bound back or are 
thrown back over the fence. Umpires have not always 
followed this Rule; there should be a uniform applica- 
tion of it, without regard to special cases or accidental 
features like bounding back, existence of small doors 
in the fence which permit quick recovery of the ball, etc. 

8. The Captain is right; that is, according to old 
Rule 39 (Foul Hit), which refers to batted balls rolling 
outside the Foul Lines "between Home and First or 
Home and Third Bases." Evidently the Bunt-hit in 
question is not of this description, for it rolled over 
Home-base, and not between it and some other base. 
This would, therefore, be a Fair Hit, by the old code. 
That this is not a mere quibble may be shown by ref- 
erence to an analogous case which is more familiar, — 
that of a ball batted to the ground, rolling along the 
Diamond and finally passing over Third Base to Foul 
Ground. This is so common an instance that the Hit 
is at once seen to be Fair, without reference to any 
Rule. But the authority for this decision lies in the 
same Rule referred to above which turns on the word 
" between." In the instance given, the ball passes over 
Third Base and not between it and Home-base, and is, 
therefore, a Fair Hit. It is hardly necessary, however, 
to say that the Bunt-hit in Question 8 should be re- 
garded as a Foul Hit; and new Rule 39 includes it as 
such, by the use of the phrase " before reaching First 
Base or Third Base." 

9. The Umpire should apply Rule 50, Sec. 12, and 
declare A out for being hit by the ball ; allow D to re- 
main at First Base ; and send B back to Second Base 
and C to Third Base. 

10. The score remains 2-0 against the side at bat. 
See Rule 47. A cannot legally touch a base ahead of 
the preceding base-runner, B. The fact that A has 






THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 145 

touched Home-base affords him no safety at all ; he 
is out when touched by the Catcher, and, as this (third) 
out is effected before B touches the Home-base, B does 
not score. See Rule 53. 

11. A is out by Rule 47. He was legally entitled 
to hold Third Base at the moment B was touched with 
the ball and put out, and consequently was not entitled 
to return and hold Second Base. Up to the moment 
B was put out, A held Third Base conditionally ; and 
then, on the instant, permanently, — at least until 
forced by a batsman to vacate it. 

Lest it be thought improbable that A could get back 
safely to Second Base, it is only necessary to say that 
B proved a lively victim and required the presence, or 
at least the attention, of the whole nine in the field, 
and A, therefore, easily ran back unhindered. 

12. The Runs do not count, as the third man is put 
out "in the sam.e manner as in running to First Base," 
i. e,y *' forced out." It is immaterial whether the base- 
runner be touched or the ball be held on the base. 
Nor does the time when the third out is effected have 
any bearing on the situation. 

13. The batsman is not out, by Rule 50, Sec. 6, 
because the ball was not thrown to First Base. 

14. (a) The Captain of the home-club, by Rule 28, 
is sole judge of fitness of conditions for beginning a 
game; and the Umpire, by revised Rule 58, for con- 
tinuing a game. 

(b) The Umpire decides from the list given him be- 
fore the game, by each Captain. See Rule 36. 

15. {a) A Stolen Base may be credited after a 
caught Fly-ball, if a base-runner advance a base, pro- 
vided an attempt is made to put him out and there is 
a chance to do so. It is immaterial whether the Fly- 
ball which is caught be Fair or Foul. See Rule 70, 
Sec. 8. 

{h) If a base-runner barely reaches Home-base 
from Second Base on a Base-hit, he should, by Rule 



146 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

70, Sec. 8, be credited with a Stolen Base. " Barely " 
should convey the idea that a possible chance for 
putting him out existed, and that an attempt was 
made to do so. 

(c) Exclusive of •' steals " on the Catcher, a Stolen 
Base should be credited to a base-runner who advances 
a base as in (a), or makes two bases on a single Hit 
by another player as in [b), or makes two bases on an 
Infield-out or attempted out, provided there is a 
chance to put him out and an attempt is made to do 
so. Rule 70, Sec. 8. 

16. (a) This is a Foul Hit because the ball first hits 
an object on Foul Ground. See Rule 39. The point 
where a ball disappears over the fence is taken into 
account only when the ball goes out of sight, without 
hitting a person or object, when Rules 38 and 39 can- 
not be applied. 

(b) This is a Fair Hit, by Rule 38, because the ball 
first hits an object on Fair Ground. 

(c) This is a Fair Hit because the ball first hits an 
object which, by Rule 9, should lie wholly on Fair 
Ground. The Umpire has a right to assume that the 
base is in proper position, although it is true that it 
may become twisted out of position either by purpose 
or accident, owing to a loose strap or other cause ; the 
Umpire's duties are difficult enough without asking 
him to discriminate as to portions of a base. It is the 
duty of the side in the field, in a case like this, to see 
that the base is properly placed or to call attention to 
the defect. 

(d) This is a Foul Hit because it did not pass to 
Fair Ground before reaching Third Base. See Rule 39. 

(e) This is a Fair Hit because the ball first hit an 
object on Fair Ground or, more exactly, the equivalent 
of one ; the position of the first point of contact of 
the ball with an object or person, with reference to 
Fair Ground or Foul Ground, is the criterion, as ex- 
plained in the last part of revised Rule 39, The point 






THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 147 

of contact here is over Fair Ground and the hit is, 
therefore, Fair. 

17. The Umpire should declare No. 1 out for not 
batting in turn. No. 2 is the next batsman. See 
Rule 45, Sec. 1. 

18. There is but one out and that one is No. 8, who 
failed to bat in turn. The next batsman is No. 9. See 
Rule 45, Sec. 1. 

19. Neither No. 2, 3 or 4 is out. It was too late 
to declare No. 2 out for not batting in turn, after the 
ball had been delivered to No. 4, " the succeeding bats- 
man," as the old Rule has it. No. 2 simply loses his 
turn, without being declared out. See Rule 45, Sec. 1. 

20. No. 2 is the only out on this play, because he 
did not bat in turn, — it being too late to substitute 
him for No, 3, after the latter had become a base- 
runner on making a third Strike. The Pitcher gets 
neither credit nor charge, for the whole Time-at-bat of 
No. 3 is void and has no effect on the record or on the 
game. No. 3 is the next batsman. See Rule 45, Sec. 1. 

21. The Umpire should call "Foul Strike" (Rule 
44) and declare the batsman out, without waiting for 
an appeal (Rules 45, Sec. 4, and 51). By Rule 56, Sec. 
4, the Umpire is required to call every Foul Strike as 
promptly as he would a Strike ; and he must be on 
the watch for both and declare what he sees, with 
equal promptness. 

22. This is a Fair Hit because the ball first hit an 
object on Fair Ground (Rule 38) ; and the base-runner 
is out for being hit by a Fair Hit. The batsman is 
allow^ed to take First Base only (Rule 50, Sec. 12). 

23. There is one out, viz., the batsman who made a 
Foul Strike (Rules 44 and 45, Sec. 4). The base-run- 
ner who was hit by the batted ball was not out, be- 
cause the ball was not in play when it hit him (Rule 
34). As the ball is out of play, each base-runner 
must return to the base held when the ball was hit. 
The score, therefore, remains 2-2. 



148 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

24. No. 2, who failed to take his turn, is the player 
declared out (Rule 45, Sec. 1). The Captain is wrong 
and the score remains unchanged. Perhaps the most 
effective, brief reply to him is that the third man out 
(No. 2) never reached First Base and, therefore, no 
runs can be scored (Rule 53). The latter part of 
Rule 45, Sec. 1, also states that no bases shall be run 
or runs scored, when a batsman is declared out for 
not batting in turn ; but this part of the Rule might 
not be clearly in mind amid the excitement attending 
a timely Home-Run like this, and the Captain referred 
to might make the situation a little confusing for the 
Umpire, by maintaining that the out was not in force 
until it was declared ; that it could not refer back (or 
date back) to the moment when No. 3 hit the ball ; 
and that Runs which were made before the out was 
claimed and declared should count. 

25. The batsman is, of course, out on three Strikes. 
See Rule 45, Sec. 6. The ball is not a Dead Ball, 
because it passed the Catcher before touching the 
Umpire (Rule 33) ; but each base-runner is entitled 
to one base (Rule 48, Sec. 4) and, therefore, the base- 
runner was not out at Second Base, and the base- 
runner from Third Base scored a run, making the score 
1-0 in favor of the side at bat, with two men out. 

26. The Hit is Fair because the ball first hit a 
person on, and wholly over. Fair Ground ; and the 
base-runner on Third Base is, therefore, out. The 
base-runner from Second Base must return there, and 
the batsman must go back to First Base. See Rule 
50, Sec. 12. 

27. It is not only legal but the Umpire is required 
to do so. (Rule 50, Sec. 6 and Rule 51.) 

By old Rule 56, Sec. 4, the Umpire was required to 
call every Balk as he would a Ball or Strike, but noth- 
ing was said of an Illegal Delivery. There is every 
reason why the latter also should be promptly de- 
clared, and the revised Rule includes it. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 149 

Old Rule 51 made an exception in two cases, — base- 
runner failing to return to base on a caught Fly-Ball, 
and after "Play" is called, on resuming the Game ; 
but the revised Rule drops even these for the reasons 
given in the comment after that Rule. 

28. In tliis case, each base-runner is entitled to 
take one base (Rule 48, Sec. 5), and the base-runner 
who is struck is, of course, not out as will be seen 
from revised Rule 50, Sec. 12. The base- runner for- 
merly on Second Base should be sent back to Third 
Base, as the ball is out of play (revised Rule 34). 
The score is 5-5 ; two are out as before the ball was 
hit. 

The answer is exactly the same for the second part 
of the question. 

29 (a) This is perfectly legal. The player is put 
out in accordance with Rule 50, Sec. 13 ; and Rule 51 
reads that the Umpire shall declare the base-runner 
out whenever he is ** put out in accordance with these 
Rules." 

(/>) The Rules oifer a basis to the extent that Rule 
50, Sec. 4, reads, — " Neither a Ball nor a Strike shall 
be counted or called until the ball has passed the 
Home-base." 

(c) Old Rule 35, Sec. 1, defined a Block-Ball as "a 
batted or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or 
handled by any person not engaged in the Game." 
A pitched ball can undoubtedly become a Block-Ball, 
although it is not commonly referred to as a " thrown " 
ball, which is apt to convey a different meaning. 

30. The player is not out, because the ball has not 
yet been put in play, after the Foul Hit, not caught. 
(Rule 34.) 

31. The batsman, when touched with the ball, was 
out for not touching First Base, making the second 
out. (The Pitcher, by Rule 50, Sec. 13, had the 
choice of touching the player or throwing the ball to 
First Base.) And, when the Pitcher touched Second 



150 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Base, he put A out for not touching that base (Rule 
50, Sec. 13), constituting the third out. B, however, 
reached Home-base before the third man was put out 
at Second Base, and his run, therefore, counts (Rule^ 
53), making the score 1-1, with three men out. 

If, on the contrary, the Pitcher had first thrown the 
ball to Third Base, making A second out, because he 
did not legally touch that base, and the ball had then 
been thrown to First Base, making the batsman third 
out for not touching that base, no runs could have been 
scored on the Hit, because the third man out failed to 
legally hold First Base (revised Rule 53), or was **put 
out before reaching First Base," as the old Rule 53 
has it. It should be clear, from Rule 47, that A, hav- 
ing failed to touch Second Base, could not legally hold 
the subsequent bases. Third Base and Home-base 
(although he actually stepped on them) ; he has not 
touched them in a legal sense (z. 6., as the Rules require) 
any more than if he had jumped over them in making 
the circuit. Hence he could be put out at either Third 
Base or Home-base, in addition to Second Base. It 
may appear that it would have been more simple for 
the Pitcher to touch Second Base, making A second 
out, and then the batsman standing on that base, 
making him third out. But this would complicate the 
situation. For it might be argued that the batsman, 
having failed to touch First Base, cannot legally touch 
or hold Second Base ; and that, therefore, the holding 
of the ball on Second Base puts out the batsman (at 
" a base he fails to touch " legally), and A at the 
same instant^ making it impossible to determine which 
was third out. And yet it is absolutely necessary to 
know this, in order to determine whether B's run 
counts, making the score a tie, or whether it does not 
count, giving the Game to the side in the field by a 
score of 1-0. Hence, to avoid the complication in a 
case like this, it is advisable to throw the ball to Third 
Base (or Home-base), and then to First Base, 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 151 

As stated above, the score is a tie, 1-1, at the end of 
the first half of the ninth inning, as a result of the 
manner in which the outs were made; while the score 
might have been 1-0 in favor of the Pitcher's club 
and the Game over, in eight and one-half innings, if 
he had effected the outs in the most advantageous 
order. He has scarcely done the right thing. 

32. The score remains 10-8 against the side at bat, 
because the third man out (the batsman) failed to 
legally hold First Base and, therefore, no runs can be 
scored on his Hit (Rule 53). Exactly the same prin- 
ciple is involved here as in Question 1 and the decision 
rests on the same Rule; but it might take a little more 
courage for the Umpire to give the decision in the 
present case, especially if the home-club's score were 
8 and that of the visiting club, 10. 

33. (a) Here the third man out (the batsman) is 
put out at Second Base, and, as three men have pre- 
viously crossed the Home-base, three runs must 
be scored (Rule 53), giving the Game by a margin of 
one run to the side last at bat. The third out, in this 
case, is not in force until it is declared, and all runs 
made before that time must be counted; while, in 
Question 32, the exact moment when the third out is 
in force or is declared is of no consequence, for no runs 
can be counted on the play, at whatever moment they 
are made. 

Lest there be an impression that the position of 
the batsman as regards Second Base, at the moment 
when the last of the three base-runners was crossing 
Home-base, has some bearing on the case, it has been 
indicated in the question that the batsman ran very 
fast and had not only passed Second Base but also 
Third Base, before the last of the three reached Home- 
base. But it is immaterial whether the batsman had 
passed Second Base or not, at the moment mentioned, 
or where he was at any moment with relation to any 
or all of the three preceding base-runners. 



152 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

(b) The Captain's argument might possibly have 
some effect during the heat and confusion of a Game, 
but the rather obvious flaw in it is that four legal runs 
have not crossed Home-base, because the last base- 
runner has not touched all the bases in due order 
(Rule 53). Hence only three runs are in and the score 
is a tie. 

34. An examination of Rule 47 will show that A, 
after legally touching Second Base, could not go back 
and hold First Base, supposing he happened to be 
driven there. After legally touching Second Base, B, 
when off that base, can proceed safely toward Third 
Base only, and must not be more than three feet out 
of the line of base between Second Base and Third 
Base, when a Fielder holds the ball ready to touch him 
(Rule 50, Sec. 7). If, therefore, when A is halfway be- 
tween Second Base and Third Base, the ball be quickly 
thrown to a Fielder on Second Base, A would be in- 
stantly out (for being three feet out of the line of base 
when wanted for the purpose of being touched), and 
the base-runner on Third Base would have very slight 
chance of getting to Home-base on the throw. Hence 
A's plan must be regarded as extremely foolish, — 
unless he understands his opponents w^ell enough to be 
svre that they will chase him back and forth ! 

35. (a) According to old Rule 70, Sec. 7, this would 
not be an error, because the batsman was subsequently 
put out and did not advance a base as a result of the 
Catcher's muff. But, as explained in the revision in 
the comment on this Rule and section, there are rea- 
sons for scoring every misplay as an error regardless 
of whether the batsman afterwards gains a base or 
not. A catch would hasten the Game and lessen the 
Pitcher's work ; while not charging the misplay as an 
error in certain cases has the appearance of excusing 
poor work. It is perhaps a stimulus to better work if 
the Catcher understands that he is expected to hold 
all Fly-Balls and will be charged with an error if he 



I 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 153 

does not. By revised Rule 70, Sec. 7, therefore, the 
misplay in question would be an error. 

(b) In this case, the batsman is of course instantly 
out by Rule 45, Sec. 9, so that, although the Pitcher's 
muff may appear, at first thought, to be a misplay and 
therefore an error, he could have accomplished nothing 
by holding the ball, as far as the batsman is concerned, 
because the latter v^as already out. Hence no actual 
chance for a put-out (new Rule 70, Sec. 7) was offered 
the Pitcher and he cannot be charged with an error, 
unless some player other than the batsman manages 
to advance a base on the play, — say, a base-runner 
from Third Base who ran in on the hit, thinking there 
were already two out. 

36. This is not a Dead Ball (Rule 33), because it 
passed the Catcher before hitting the Umpire. A was, 
therefore, out at Home-base ; while B's run counts, 
making the score 2-1 in favor of the visiting club. 
Each base-runner was entitled to one base (Rule 48, 
Sec. 4), but A took more than one at his own risk. 

37. (<^) No. 2 is out for not batting in turn ; but 
there is no reason why the base-runner should return 
to First Base, as he was not aided at all by No. 3, who 
was batting out of turn, and could have reached Sec- 
ond Base just as readily if the proper batsman. No. 2, 
had been at the bat. See revised Rule 45, Sec. 1. 

(b) He certainly should, according to the Rules. 
For Rule 45, Sec. 1, declares a batsman out (at the 
moment described in the question) for not taking his 
proper turn ; and, by Rule 51, the Umpire shall de- 
clare a batsman out " without waiting for an appeal 
for such decision, in all cases where such player is put 
out in accordance with these Rules." The batsman is 
out for failing to do a certain thing, and nothing is 
required of the side in the field such as touching, 
throwing, etc. ; it only remains for the Umpire to 
announce the out. There is no reason why the Umpire 
should not take the Game in hand to the full extent 



154 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

given him these many years, in this and in a consider- 
able number of other cases, instead of having the 
Game conducted for him by the players through the 
medium of unnecessary appeals. 

38. The list F, S, N, etc., which the Captain handed 
to the Umpire is official (Rule 3G) and is the sole guide 
in a case like this. N is out (Rule 45, Sec. 1) because 
he did not take his turn after S, according to the offi- 
cial order, — it being too late to rectify the error, after 
F (who batted after S) has become a base-runner. But 
F is not out, because he was not declared out or 
claimed out immediately after S had become a base- 
runner, and before the ball had been delivered to the 
next batsman after S. The next or ^^ succeeding bats- 
man " in this less usual case happened to be F himself. 
That F is not out is confirmed by the fact that, if he 
were declared out, there would be two men given out 
(F and N) at one time, a proceeding forbidden by 
Rule 45, Sec. 1, which reads that only one shall be put 
out. There is no doubt, of course, about N's being 
out, for his name followed that of S on the official list, 
F, S, N, etc., and he was not substituted before 
another batsman had completed a Time-at-bat and 
become a base-runner. 

The next batsman is the one whose name follows 
N's on the official list, F, S, N, etc., because the next 
batsman, by Rule 45, Sec. 1, is the one whose name 
follows that of the player declared out. 

To make a full decision, it is necessary to add that 
S's Base-hit becomes legal (although he was batting 
when F should) because the error, as already noted, 
was not rectified before the ball was delivered to a 
batsman after S. But F's Base-hit is not legal be- 
cause it was shown immediately after he made the Hit 
that he was batting when N should, and N was given 
out. Hence F retires to the Players' Bench ; he is 
not out but simply loses a turn which he should have 
taken just before S. And S, having advanced from 



II 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 155 

First Base on F's illegal Base-hit, must return to that 
base. (Rule 45, Sec. 1.) 

39. The Umpire should follow neither course. C is 
not out for his turn has only just come, according to 
the official list, now that B has just become a base- 
runner ; the official list is the guide, not the order 
which happened to be followed at the start. And as 
for B, he would have been out in the first inning, if 
the out had been declared or claimed, before the ball 
was delivered to a "succeeding batsman," ^. 6., any 
batsman after the "improper batsman C." See Rule 
36 and Rule 45, Sec. 1. But it is too late to declare B 
out now. 

40. There is, of course, no question about the le- 
gality of the runs of B and C, who were on Second Base 
and Third Base respectively, and the score is at least 
a tie. A is put out at Second Base, making two out, 
and his circuit of the bases counts for nothing. The 
winning of the Game in this inning, therefore, de- 
pends on the batsman's run, the legality of which, 
however, is subject to grave doubt because he touched 
Second Base, Third Base and Home-base before they 
had been legally touched and vacated by the immedi- 
ately preceding base-runner. A, and therefore before 
the batsman himself was entitled to touch or hold 
them. The principle involved is the same as that in 
Question 10, where a base-runner passes the one im- 
mediately preceding and is put out for touching Home- 
base before he has any legal right to it (that is, be- 
fore the preceding base-runner has legally touched and 
vacated it). In the present case, the batsman vir- 
tually, if not actually, " passed another base-runner on 
the base-line'' (to use a common phrase) ; for he com- 
pleted the circuit in spite of the fact that his legal ad- 
vance beyond Second Base was blocked by A's failure 
to touch that base and those succeeding. A never 
legally held any of the bases except First Base, and 
the batsman, as succeeding base-runner, cannot hold 



156 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

them all before A has. Therefore, there would seem 
to be no ground for scoring a run to the batsman. 

To get a clearer understanding of the situation, ref- 
erence to a more usual case may be made. If K is on 
Second Base and L on Third Base and they start for 
Home-base, it may happen that both are between 
Third Base and Home-base, at the same time; in this 
case, it is evident that K has touched Third Base con- 
ditionally (L may be driven back there), and his touch- 
ing it is not legal, until L has touched Home-base or 
has been put out. Although K's touching Third Base 
is conditional, it is well known that he can continue 
to Home-base behind L, touching it after him, and 
that this is in due form and that both runs count. In 
this case. Third Base was not legally vacated by L un- 
til he had touched Home-base; and yet K's touching 
Third Base before that time is considered legal. Hence 
K can hold one base conditionally and need not touch 
that base (Third Base) after L has touched Home- 
base, or has been put out. But reference to Question 
10 and answer shows that K could not hold two bases 
(Third Base and Home-base) conditionally, ^. 6., before 
the preceding base-runner has vacated the two; in a 
case like that in Question 10, K would have been 
obliged, in order to make his run legal, to touch Home- 
base after the preceding base-runner had touched it 
or had been put out. Hence, from the more usual case, 
is deduced the general principle that a base-runner can 
hold one base conditionally and only one, and cannot 
pass a preceding base-runner either actually or vir- 
tually, except at his own risk, ^. 6., risk of being put 
out at any base he fails to legally touch or hold, in the 
same manner as in running to First Base, or of having 
his run disallowed. 

The batsman, therefore (to return to Question 40), 
could hold one base (Second Base) conditionally but 
not the succeeding two; to make his run legal he would 
have been obliged to re-touch Third Base and Home- 



i 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 157 

base after A was declared out at Second Base and the 
legal obstacle to his progress had thus been removed. 
The batsman can now be put out by being touched 
v/ith the ball or by the ball being held on Third Base or 
Home-base. But, as he has probably abandoned the 
bases and gone off to the Players' Bench, the Umpire 
could call him out without further action by the side 
in the field. Hence the score is 2-2, with three out. 
If A had been put out when running the bases before 
the batsman left Third Base, the batsman's conditional 
touching of Second Base would have become legalized, 
and his touching of Third Base and Home-base would 
have been legal. But so long as A remained not out 
or had not legally touched Second Base, Third Base or 
Home-base, the batsman could not legally touch Third 
Base or Home-base. 



158 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



THE VICTOR Base-Ball. 



Every ball player likes to know about the ball he 
uses. He wishes to know how it is put together and 
of what materials it is made. We encourage such 
curiosity about our goods. We have been warned, 
cautioned, and advised not " To educate our trade 
too much." But we have no weak line of goods. 
Hence we do not fear to educate. 

One of our ways of educating users of base-balls is 
to let them see the interior of a Victor ball. We do 
this by cutting balls open through the center. We 
thus show the excellence of workmanship and material 
in them. Our campaign of education has wrought 
disaster to other balls to which the cutting test has 
been applied. Through it we have unwittingly been 
the means of exposing a great fraud perpetrated on 
the too confiding purchasers of base-balls, and thereby 
have incurred the wrath of hangers-on of professional 
leagues. 

As there is no fraud in the manufacture of the 
Victor ball we do not fear to subiect it to the closest 
scrutiny. We invite rigid inspection. 

One chapter in our campaign of education is to tell 
all about the manufacture of the Victor ball. 

The center of every base-ball should consist of a 
round piece of pure rubber. Pure rubber stretches 
like a rubber band, and cannot be easily cut. It is 
very elastic and soft. Victor base-balls have just such 
centers, we make them ourselves. We are the only 
company making rubber centers for its own base-balls. 
This is one point in favor of the Victor ball. You 
may remember in years past that you have unwound 
old base-balls and found centers in them which could 
be easily cut and torn apart. You probably noticed 
that this so-called rubber was full of brass filings, cork 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 159 

dust, ground up overshoes and other forms of cheap 
refuse known to all makers of rubber goods. You 
will not find such rubber in Victor base-balls. It would 
be cheating for us to use it. The best material for the 
body of a base-ball is heavy worsted yarn specially 
made. Shoddy yarn can be used, but the balls made 
of it are dead and heavy, besides being cheaply made. 
We give full value to purchasers of our league ball, 
because we use the best quality of yarn. Good yarn 
does not make a punky ball. 

It is very difficult always to secure satisfactory 
leather for ball covers. We accordingly select the 
leather as carefully as possible and replace all balls 
whose covers have not, in our estimation, given satis- 
factorv service. 



The Playing-Rules for 1896, 

AS OFFICIALLY REVISED. 

THE BALL GROUND. 

Rule 1. Tlie ground must be an inclosed field, sufficient in size to 
enable each player toi)lay in his position as required by these Rules. 

Rule 2. To lay off the lines governing the positions and play off the 
game known as Base-hall^ proceed as follows : — 

From a point, A, within the grounds, project a right line out into the 
field, and at a point, B, 154 feet from point A, lay off lines B C and B D 
at right angles to the line A B ; then with B as center, and a3.63945 feet 
as radius, describe arcs cutting the lines B A at F, and B C at Gr, B D 
at H, and B E at I. Draw lines F G, Gr I, I H, and H F, and said lines 
will be the containing lines of the Diamond, or Infield. 

THE catcher's LIXES. 

Rule 3. With F as center, and 90 feet radius, an arc cutting line \ 
F A at L, and drav/ lines L M and L O at right angles to F A ; and con- i 
tinue same out from F A not less than 90 feet. 1 

the foul lixe. 

Rulp: 4. From the intersection point F, continue the straight lines 
F Gr and F H until they intersect with the lines L M and L O, and then 
from the points Gr and H in the opposite direction until they reach the 
boundary lines of the grounds. 

THE PLAYERS' LIXES. 

Rule 5. With F as center, and 50 feet radius, dsscribe arcs cutting 
lines F O and EM at P and Q ; then with F as center again, and 75 feet 
radius, describe arcs cutting F G- and F H at R and S ; then from the 
points P Q R and S draw lines at right angles to the lines F O, F M, F Gr 
and F H, and continue same until they intersect at the points T W and 
W. 

THE CAPTAIX AXD COACHERS' LIXE. 

Rule 6. With R and S as centers, and 15 feet radius, describe arcs 
cutting lines R W and S T at X and Y, and from the points X and Y 
draw Imes parallel with lines F H and F G, and continue same out to 
the boundary lines of the groiind. 

THE THREE-FOOT LIXE. 

Rule 7. With F as center, and 45 feet radius, describe an arc cut- 
ting line F G at I, and from I out to the distance of 3 feet draw a line 
at right angles to F G, and marked point 2 ; then from point 2 draw a 
line parallel with the line F G to a point 3 feet beyond the point G, and 
marked 3 ; then from the point 3 draw a line at right angles to 2, 3, 
back to and intersecting with line F G, and from thence back along 
line G F to point I. 

THE pitcher's PLATE. 

RuLi: 8. With point F as center and 60.5 feet as radius, describe an 
arc cutting the line F B at a ])oint 4, and draAv a line 5, 6, passing through 
point 4 and extending 12 inches on either side of line F B ; then with 
lines 5, 6, as a side, describe a parallelogram 24 inches by 6 inches. 

THE BASES. 

Rule 9. Within the angle F, describe a square, the sides of which 
shall be 12 inches, two of its sides lying upon the lines F G and F H, 
and within the angles G and H describe squares, the side of which 
shall be 15 inches, the two outer sides of said square lying upon the 
lines F G and G I, and F H and H I, and at the angle E describe a 

160 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 161 

square, whose side shall be 15 inches, and so described that its sides 
shall be parallel with G I and I H, and its center immediately over the 
angular point E. 

THE BATSMAX'S LINES. 

Rule 10. On either side of the line A F B describe two parallelo- 
grams 6 feet long and 4 feet wide (marked 8 and 9), their length being 
imrallel with the line A F B, their distance apart being6 inches, added 
to each end of the length of the diagonal of the square within the 
angle F, and the center of their length being upon said diagonal. 

Rule 11. The Home Base at F, and the Pitcher's Plate at 4, must be 
of whitened rubber, and so fixed in the ground as to be even with the 
surface. 

Rule 12. The First Base at G, the Second Base at E, the Third Base 
at H, must be of white canvas bags, filled with soft material, and 
securely fastened in their positions, described in Rule 9. 

Rule 13. The lines described in Rules 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10, must be 
marked with lime, chalk or other suitable material, so as to be dis- 
tinctly seen by the Umpire. 

THE BALL.* 

Rule 14. The Ball. 

Section 1. Must not weigh less than five, nor more than five and 
one-quarter ounces, avoirdupois, and measure not less than nine nor 
more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. 

Sec. 2c For each championship game two balls shall be furnished by 
the Home Club to the Umpire for use. When the ball in i^lay is batted 
to foul ground, out of sight of the Umpire, the other ball shall be 
immediately brought into play. As often as one of the two in use shall 
be lost, anew one must be substituted, so thatthe Umpire shall, at all 
times after the game begins, have two balls for use. The moment the 
Umpire delivers an alternate ball to the pitcher, it comes into play, 
and shall not be exchanged until it, in turn, passes out of sight to foul 
ground. At no time shall the ball be intentionally discolored by rub- 
bing it with the soil or otherwise. 

Sec. 3. In all games the ball or balls played with shall be furnished 
by the Home Club, and the last ball in play becomes the property of 
the winning club. Each ball to be used in championship games shall 
be examined, measured and weighed by the Secretary of the Associa- 
tion, inclosed in a paper box, and sealed with the seal of the Secretary, 
which seal shall not be broken except by the Umpire in the presence of 
the Captains of the two contesting nines after play has been called. 
Every club must keep at least twelve balls ready for use. 

Sec. 4. Should the ball become out of shape, or cut or ripped so as to 
expose the interior, or in any way so injured as to be, in the opinion of 
the Umpire, unfit for fair use, he shall, upon appeal by either Captain, 
at once put the alternate ball into iilay and call for a new one. 

THE BAT. 

Rule 15. The Bat. 

Must be entirely of hard wood, except thatthe handle maybe wound 
with twine, or a granulated substance applied, not to exceed eighteen 
inches from the end. 

It must be round, not exceed two and three-quarter inches in diame- 

♦These specifications allow by far too great leeway in eize and weight, and are made to 
include all grades of the rough, machine-made balls ordinarily sold as Official League Balls. 
The proper specifications should be 9 inches in circumference, and from 5 to 5 1-8 ounces 
in weight. The circumference of a ball can be regulated to 1-100 part of an inch, and the 
weight to a small fraction of an ounce. All balls should be made as nearly the same size 
and weight as posiibte. The ball which conforms most nearly to the approved specifica- 
tions is the Victor League Ball. It was proposed to the National licague for adoption at 
its annual meeting November 23. 189.5, where the motion was made and seconded that 
minor leagues be allowed to use the Victor ball by reason of its excellent qualities and 
reasonable price. Many minor leagues are now using the Victor ball and say that it gives 
them entire satisfaction. 



163 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

ter ill the thickest part, and must not exceed forty-two inches in 
length. 

THE PLAYERS AND THEIll POSITIONS. 

Rule 16. The players of each club in a game shall be nine in number, 
one of whom shall act as Captain, and in no case shall less than nine 
men be allowed to play on each side. 

Rule 17. The players' positions shall be such as may be assigned 
them by their Captain, except that the pitcher must take the position 
as defined in Rules 8 and 29. 

Rule 18. Players in uniform shall not be permitted to occupy seats 
among the spectators. 

Rule 19. Section 1. Every club shall adopt uniforms for its play- 
ers, but no player shall attach anything to the sole or heel of his shoes 
other than the ordinary base-ball shoe plate. 

Sec. 2. The catcher and first baseman are permitted to wear a glove 
or mitt of any size, shape or weight. All other players are restricted to 
the use of a glove or mitt weighing not over ten ounces, and measur- 
ing in circumference around the palm of the hand not over fourteen 
inches. 

players' benches. 

Rule 20. The Players' Benches must be furnished by the Home 
Club, and placed upon a portion of the ground outside of, and not 
nearer than twenty-five feet to, the players' lines. One such bench 
must be for the exclusive use of the visiting club, and one for the 
exclusive use of the home club ; and all players of the side at the bat 
must be seated on their bench, except such as are legally assigned to 
coach base runners, and also the batsman when called to the bat by the 
Umpire, and under no circumstances shall the Umpire permit any 
person, except the club president, managers, and players in uniform, 
to occupy seats on the benches. 

THE GAME. 

Rule 21. Section 1. Every Championship game must be com- 
menced not later than tw'o hours before sunset. 

Sec. 2. A Game shall consist of nine innings to each contesting 
nine, except that 

(a) If the side first at bat scores less runs in nine innings than the 
other side has scored in eight innings, the game shall then terminate. 

(b) If the side last at bat in the ninth innings scores the winning 
run before the third man is out, the game shall terminate. 

A TIE GAME. 

Rule 22. If the score be a tie at the end of nine innings, play shall 
be continued until one side has scored more runs than the other in an 
equal number of innings, provided that if the side last at bat scores 
the winning run before the third man is out the game shall terminate. 

A DRAWN GAME. 

Rule 23. A Drawn Game shall be declared by the Umpire when he 
terminates a game on account of darkness or rain, after five equal 
inning,s have been played, if the score at the time is equal on the last 
even innings played ; but (exception) if the side that went second to 
bat is then at the bat, and has scored the same number of runs as tlie 
other side, the Umpire shall declare the game drawn without regard 
to the score of the last equal innings. 

A CALLED GAME. 

Rule 24. If the Umpire calls "Game" on account of darkness or 
rain at any time after five innings have been completed, the score shall 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 163 

be that of the last equal innings played, unless the side second at bat 
shall have scored one or more runs than the side first at bat, in which 
case the score of the game shall be the total number of runs made. 

A fokfp:itkd game. 

Rule 25. A forfeited game shall be declared by the Umpire in 
favor of the club not in fault, at the request of such club, in the fol- 
lowing cases : 

Skction 1. If the nine of a club fail to a})})ear upon a field, or, being 
ui)on the lield, fail to begin the game within live minutes after the 
Umpire has called " Play " at the hour appointed for the beginning of 
the game, unless such delay in appearing or in commencing the game 
be unavoidable. 

Sec. 2. If, after the game has begun, one side refuses or fails to 
continue playing, unless such game has been suspended or terminated 
by the Umpire. 

Sec. 3. If, after play has been suspended by the Umpire, one side 
fails to resume i^laving within one minute after the Umpire has called 
" Play." 

Sec. 4. If a team resorts to dilatory practice to delay the game. 

Sec. 5. If, in the opinion of the Umpire, any one of these rules is 
willfully violated. 

Sec. (3. If, after ordering the removal of a player as authorized by 
Rule 69, Sec. 5, said order is not obeyed within one minute. 

Sec . 7. In case the Umpire declares a game forfeited, he shall trans- 
mit a written notice thereof to the President of the Association within 
twenty-four hours thereafter. 

>:0 GAME. 

RrLE 26. '*No Game " shall be declared by the Umpire if he shall 
terminate plaj" on account of rain or darkness, before f^ye innings on 
each side are completed, except in a case when the game is called, and 
the club second at bat shall have more runs at the end of its fourth 
innings than the club first at bat has made in its five innings, then the 
Um])ife shall award the game to the club having made the greatest 
number of runs, and it shall be a game and be so counted in the 
Championship record, 

SUBSTITUTES. 

Rule 27. Section 1. In every championship game each team shall 
be required to have present on the field, in uniform, one or more sub- 
stitute players. 

Sec. 2. Any such player may be substituted at any time by either 
club, but no player thereby retired shall thereafter participate in the 
game. 

Sec. 3. The Base Runner shall not have a substitute run for him 
except by consent of the Captains of the contesting teams. 

CHOICE OF INNINGS — CONDITION OF GKOUND. 

Ri LE 28. The choice of innings shall be given to the Captain of the 
Home Club, who shall also be the sole judge of the fitness of the 
ground for beginning a game after rain. 

THE pitcher's POSITION. 

Rule 29. The Pitcher shall take his position facing the Batsman 
with both feet square on the ground, and in front of the Pitcher's 
plate, but in the act of delivering the ball one foot must be in contact 
with the Pitcher's plate, defined'in Rule 8. He shall not raise either 
foot, unless in the act of delivering the ball, nor make more than one 
step in such delivery. When the Pitcher feigns to throw the ball to a 
base he must resume the above position and pause momentarily before 
delivering the ball to the bat. 



164 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

I'llE DELlVElli' OF TJiE i;ALL— lAlU AND UNFAIR IJALLrS. 

RrLE 30. A Fair Ball is a ball delivered by the Pitcher while stand- 
ing;- in his position, and facing- the Batsman, the Ball so delivered to 
l)ass over any part of the Home Base, not lower than the Batsman's 
knee, nor higher than his shonlder. 

RuLEoL "An Unfair Ball is o. ball delivered by the Pitcher, as in 
"Rule 30, except that the ball does not pass over any part of the Home 
Base, or does pass over any part of the Home Base above the Batsman's 
shoulder or below the knee. 

BALKIXG. 

RiTLE 32. A Balk shall be : 

Seijtiox 1. Any motion made by the Pitcher to deliver the ball to 
the bat without delivering- it. " ^ 

Sec. 2. Any delivery of the ball to the bat by the Pitcher Avhile his 
pivot foot is not in contact Avith the Pitcher's plate as defined in 
Rule 29. 

Sec. 3. 
game unnecessarily. 

Se(j. 4. Any motion in delivering the ball to the bat by the Pitcher 
while not in the position defined in Rule 29. 

DEAD BALLS. 

Rule 33. A Dead Bail is a ball delivered to the bat by the Pitcher 
that touches any part of the Batsman's person or clothin^Mvhile stand- 
ing in his position without being struck at ; or any j^art of the Umpire's 
jierson or clothing, while on foul ground, without first passing the 
Catcher. 

Rule 34. In case of a Foul Strike, Foul Hit Ball not legally caught 
out, Dead Ball, or Base Runner put out for being struck by a fair hit 
l)ail, the ball shall not be considered in play until it is held by the 
ritcher standing in his position, and the Umpire shall have called 
play. 

BLOCK BALLS. 

Rule 35. Section 1. A Block is a batted or throv/n ball that is 
touched, stopped or handled by anyone not engaged in the game. 

SEC. 2. Whenever a Block occurs the Umpire shall declare it, and 
Base Runners may run the Bases without being \n\t out until the ball 
ha.-i (icen returned to and held by the Pitcher standing- in his ]>osition. 

Sec. 3. In the case of a Block, if the person not engaged in the 
game should retain i)ossession of the ball, or throw or kick it beyond 
th3 reach of the Fielders, tiie T^mpire should call '* Time," and require 
each Base Runner to stop at the last base touched by him until the ball 
be returned to the Pitcher standing in his position, and the Umpire 
shall have called play. 

THE batsm:ax's rosrnox— order of batting. 

Rule 36. Batsmen must take their positions within the Batsmen's 
Lines a,s defined in Rule 10, in the order in which they are named in 
the batting order, which l^atting order must l)e submitted by the Cap- 
tains of the opposing teanis to the Umpire before the game, and this 
batting order must be followed except in the case of a substitute 
player, in Avhich case the substitute must take the place of the original 
player in the batting order. After the first inning the first striker in 
each inning shall be the batsman whose name follows that of the last 
man who has comi)leted his turn — time at bat — in the ])receding inning. 

RUI-E37. Spx'tionI. When their side goes to the bat the idayers 
must immediately return to the i)layers' bench, as defined in Rule 20, 
and remain there until the side is put ou% excei)t when batsmen or 
base runners; ])rovi(le(l, that the Ca]itain and one assistant only may 
occupy the space between the Players' Lines and the Captain' sXiues 
to coach base runners. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 165 

Sec. 2. No player of the side "at bat," except when batsman shall 
occnpy any portion of the space within the Catcher's Lines, as delined 
in Rule 3. The triangular space behind the Home Base is reserved for 
the exclusive use of Umpire, Catcher and Batsmen, and the Umpire 
must prohibit any i)layer of the side " at bat " from crossing the same 
at any time while the' ball is in the hands of, or i)assing between, the 
Fitclier and Catcher, while standine; in their positions. 

Skc. 3. The i)layers of the side "at bat" must occu]iy the portion 
of the held allotted them, but must speedily vacate' any i)ortion 
thereof that may be in the way of the ball, or any Fielder attempting 
to catch or tield "it. 

THE BATTING RULES. 

Rule 38. A Fair Hit is a ball batted by the Batsman, standing in 
his position that lirst touches any i)art of the i)erson of a player or 
umpire or falls within the Foul Lines, that (whether it lirst touches 
Foul or Fair Ground) bounds or rolls within the Foul Liiies, between 
Home and First, or Home and Third Bases, without interference by a 
player. 

Rule 39. A Foral Hit is a ball batted by the Batsman, standing in 
his position, that lirst touches the ground, any part of tho person of a 
])layer, or any object behind either of the Foul Lines, or that strikes 
the person of such Batsman, while standing in his ])o.sition, or batted 
by the Batsman, standing in his position, that (whether it hrst touches 
Foul or Fair Ground) bounds or rolls outside the Foul Lines, between 
Home and First, or Home and Third Bases, without interference by a 
player : ProvWpxl, that a Foul Hit ^^all not rising ribove tlie l^atsmah's 
head, and caught by the Catcher playing within ten feet of the Itome 
Base shall be termed a Foul Tip. 

R ULE 40. A Bunt Hi t is a deliberate attempt on the ])art of the Bats- 
man to hit a ball slowly within the inlield so that it cannot be fielded 
by any inlieider in time to retire the Batsman. 

BALLS IJATTED OUTSIDE THE GROUNDS. 

Rule 41. When a batted ball passes outside the grounds, the 
T'mpire shall decide it Fair should it disappear within, or Foul should 
it disappear outside of, the range of the Foul Lines, and Rules 38 and 
39 are to be construed accordingly. 

Rule 42. A Fair batted ball that goes over the fence shall entitle 
the Batsman to a Home Run, except that should it go (n-er tlie fence 
at a less distance than two hundred and thirty-five feet from the Home 
Base, when he shall be entitled to two bases' only, and a distinctive 
line shall be marked on the fence at this point. 

STRIKES. 

Rule 43. A strike is : 

Section 1. A ball struck at by the Batsman without its touching 
his bat ; or 

Sec. 2. A Fair Ball legally delivered l)y the Pitcher, but not struck 
at by the Batsman. 

Sec. 3. Any obvious attempt to make a Foul Hit. 

Sec. 4. A Foul Hit other than a Foul Tip, made by the Batsman 
while attempting a Bunt Hit, as delined in Rule 40, thait falls or rolls 
upon Foul Ground between Home Base and First Base or Home Base 
and Third Base. 

Se(^ 5. A ball struck at, if the ball touches any jiart of the Bats- 
man's person. 

Sec. G. a ball tipped by the Batsman and caught by the Catcher 
within the ten-foot lines. 

Rule 44. A Foul Strike is a ball batted by the Batsman when any 
part of his person is uixm ground outside the lines of the Batsman's 
position. 



166 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

THE BATSMAX IS OUT. 

Rule 45. The Batsman is out : 

Sectiox 1. If he fails to take his iiosition at the bat in his order of 
batting, unless the error be discovered and the proper Batsman takes 
his position before a time "at bat" recorded; and in such case the 
balls and strikes called must be counted in the time " at bat " of the 
proper Batsman, and only the proper Batsman shall be declared out: 
Provided, this rule shall not take effect unless the out is declared 
before the ball is delivered to the succeeding Batsman, and no runs 
shall be scored or bases run, and further, no outs shall be counted 
other than that of the proper Batsman. 

Sec. 2. If he fails to take his position within one minute after the 
Umpire has called for the Batsman. 

Sec. 3. If he makes a Foul Hit other than a Foul Tip, as defined in 
Rule 39, and the ball be momentarily held by a Fielder before touching 
the ground, provided it be not caught in a Fielder's hat or cap, or 
touch some object other than a Fielder, before being caught. 

Sec. 4. If he makes a Foul Strike. 

Sec. 5. If he attempts to hinder the Catcher from fielding or throw- 
ing the ball by stepping outside the lines of his position, or otherwise 
obstructing or interfering- with the player. 

Sec. 6. If, while the First Base be occupied by a base runner, three 
strikes be called on him by the LTmpire, except when two men are 
already out. 

Sec. 7. If, after two strikes have been called, the Batsman obviously 
attempts to make a Foul Hit, as in Rule 43, Section 3. 

Sec. 8. If, while attempting a4;hird strike, the ball touches any 
part of the Batsman's person, in which case base runners occupying 
bases shall return, as prescribed in Rule 49, Section 5. 

Sec. 9. If he hits a fiy ball that can be handled by an infielder 
while First and Second Bases are occupied, or First, Second and Third, 
with only one out. 

Sec. 10. If the third strike is called, in accordance with Section 4, 
Rule 43, in such case the Umpire shall, as soon as the ball isJiit, declare 
infield or outfield hit. 

BASE RUNNING RULES. 

WHEN THE BATSMAN BECOMES A BASE RUNNER. 

Rule 46. The Batsman becomes a Base Runner : 

Section 1. Instantly after he makes a Fair Hit. 

Sec. 2. Instantly after four balls have been called by the Umpire. 

Sec. 3. Instantly after three strikes have been decided by the 
Umpire. 

Sec. 4. If while he be a Batsman, without making any attempt to 
strike, his person — excepting hands or forearm, which makes it a dead 
ball— or clothing be hit by a ball from the Pitcher ; unless, in the 
opinion of the Umpire, he intentionally permits himself to be so hit. 

Sec. 5. Instantly after an illegal delivery of a ball by the Pitcher. 

BASES to be touched. 

Rule 47. The Base Runner must touch each base in regular order, 
viz. : First, Second, Third and Home Bases, and when obliged to 
return (exception a Foul Hit) must retouch the base or bases in 
reverse order. He shall only be considered as holding a base after 
touching it, and shall then be entitled to hold such base until he has 
legally touched the next base in order, or has been legally forced to 
vacate it for a succeeding Base Runner. 

entitled to bases. 
Rule 48. The Base Runner shall be entitled, without being put out, 
to take the base in the following cases : 



II 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 167 

Section 1. If, w^hile he was Batsman, the Umpire called four balls. 

Sec. 2. If the Umpire aAvards a succeeding- batsman a base on four 
balls, or for being hit with a pitched ball, or m case of an illegal deliv- 
ery—as in Rule 46, Section 5— and the Base Runner is thereby forced 
to vacate the base held by him. 

Sec. 3. If the Umpire calls a *' balk." 

Sec. 4. If a ball, delivered by the Pitcher, passes the Catcher and 
touches the Umpire, or any fence or building within ninety feet of the 
Home Base. 

Sec. 5. If, upon a fair hit, the ball strikes the i^erson or clothing of 
the Umpire on fair ground. 

Se(;. 6. If he be prevented from making a base by the obstruction 
of an adversary. 

Sec. 7. If the Fielder stops or catches a batted ball with his hat or 
any part of his dress. 

RETURNING TO BASES. 

Rule 49. The Base Rimner shall return to his base, and shall be 
entitled to so return without being put out. 

Section 1. If the Umpire declares a Foul Tip (as defined in Rule 
39), or any other Foul Hit not legally caught by a fielder. 

Sec. 2. If the Umpire declares a'^Foul Strike. 

Sec. 3. If the Umpire declares a Dead Ball, unless it be also the 
fourth Unfair Ball, and he be thereby forcedrto take the next l)ase, as 
provided in Rule 48, Section 2. 

Sec. 4. If the person or clothing of the Umpire interferes with the 
Catcher, or he is struck by a ball thrown by the Catcher to intercept a 
Base Runner. 

Sec. 5. The Base Runner shall return to his base, if, while attempt- 
ing a strike, the ball touches any part of the Batsman's person. 

WHEN BASE RUNNERS ARE OUT. 

Rule 50. The Base Runner is out : 

Section 1. If, after three strikes have been declared against him 
while Batsman, and the Catcher fails to catch the third strike ball, he 
plainly attempts to hinder the Catcher from fielding the ball. 

Sec. 2. If, having made a Fair Hit while Batsman, such fair hit 
ball be momentarily held by a Fielder, before touching the ground, or 
any object other than a Fielder : Provided, it be not caught in a 
Fielder's hat or cap. 

Sec. 3. If, when the Umpire has declared three strikes on him 
while Batsman, the third strike ball be momentarily held by a Fielder 
before touching the ground : Provided, it be not caught in a Fielder's 
hat or cap, or touch some object, other than a Fielder, before being- 
caught. 

Sec. 4. If, after Three Strikes, or a Fair Hit, he be touched with 
the ball in the hand of a Fielder, before he shall have touched First 
Base. 

Sec. 5. If, after Three Strikes or a Fair Hit, the ball be securely 
held by a Fielder, while touching First Base with any part of his per- 
son, before such Base Runner touches First Base. 

Sec. 6. If, in running the last half of the distance from Home Base 
to First Base, while the ball is being fielded to First Base, he runs 
outside the three foot lines, as defined in Rule 7, unless to avoid a 
Fielder attempting to field a batted ball. 

Sec. 7. If, in running from First to Second Base, from Second to 
Third Base, or from Third to Home Base, he runs more than three feet 
from a direct line between such bases, to avoid being touched by the 
ball in the hands of a Fielder ; but in case a Fielder be occupying the 
Base Runner's proper path, in attempting to field a batted ball, then 
the Base Runner shall run out of the path, and behind said Fielder, 
and shall not be declared out for so doing. 



168 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Sec. 8. If he fails to avoid a Fielder attempting to field a batted 
ball, in the manner described in Sections 6 and 7 of this llule ; or if he 
in any way obstructs a Fielder attempting to lield a batted ball, or 
intentionally interferes with a thrown ball : Provided, that if two or 
more Fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the Base Runner 
comes in contact with one or more of them, the Umpire shall deter- 
mine which Fielder is entitled to the benefit of this Rule, and shall not 
decide the Base Runner out for coming in contact with any other 
Fielder. 

Sec. 9. If, at any time, while the ball is in play, he be touched by 
the ball in the hands of a Fielder, unless some part of his person is 
touching a base he is entitled to occupy : Provided, the ball be held 
by the Fielder after touching him ; but (exception as to First Base) in 
running to First Base he may overrun said base, without being put out 
for being off said base, after touching it, provided he returns at once 
and retouches the base, after which he may be put out as at any other 
base. If, in overrunning First Base, he also attempts to run to Second 
Base, or, after passing the base he turns to his left from the foul line, 
he shall forfeit such exemption from being put out. 

Sec. 10. If, when a Fair or Foul Hit ball (other than a foul tip as 
referred to in Rule 39) is legally caught by a Fielder on the base 
occupied by the Base Runner when such ball was struck (or the Base 
Runner be touched with. the ball in the hands of a Fielder), before he 
retouches said base after such Fair or Foul Hit Ball was so caught : 
Provided, that the Base Runner shall not be out in such case, if, after 
the ball was legally caught as above, it be delivered to the bat by the 
Pitcher before the Fielder holds it on said base, or touches the Base 
Runner with it : but, if the Base Runner, in attempting to reach a base 
detaches it before being touched or forced out, he shall be declared 
safe. 

Sec. 11. If, when a Batsman becomes a Base Runner the First Base 
or the First and Second Bases, or the First, Second and Third 
Bases, be occupied, any Base Runner so occupying a base shall cease 
to be entitled to hold it, until any following Base Runner is put out, 
and may be i^ut out at the next base or by being touched by the ball 
in the handsof a Fielder in the same manner as in running to First 
Base, at any time before any following Base Runner is put out. 

Sec. 12. If a Fair Hit ball strike hihi before touching the Fielder, 
and in such case no base shall be run unless forced by the Batsman 
becoming a base runner, and no run shall be scored ; or any other base 
runner put out. 

Sec. 13. If, when running to a base or forced to return to 
a base, he fail to touch the intervening base or bases, if any, in the 
order prescribed in Rule 47, he may be put out at the base he.fails to 
touch, or being touched by the ballin the hands of a Fielder, in the 
same manner as in running to First Base : Provided, that the Base 
Runner shall not be out in such case if the ball be delivered to the bat 
by the Pitcher before the Fielder holds it on said base or touches the 
Base Runner with it. 

Sec. 11. If, when the Umpire calls " Play," after any suspension of 
a game, he fails to return to and touch the base he occupied when 
"Time "was called before touching the next base: Provided, t\\Q 
Base Runner shall not be out in such case if the ball be delivered to 
the bat by the Pitcher before the Fielder holds it on said base or 
touches the Base Runner with it. 

WHEN BATSMAN OR BASE EUXXER IS OUT. 

Rule 51. The Umpire shall declare the Batsman or Base Runner 
out, without waiting for an appeal for such decision, in all cases 
where such i)layer is put out in accordance with these rules, except as 
l)rovided in Rule 50, Sections 10 and 14. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



169 



COACHING RULES. 

Rule 52. The Coachers shall be restricted to coaching the Base 
Runner only, and shall not be allowed to address any remarks except 
to the Base Runner, and then only in words of necessary direction ; 
and shall not use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect 
upon a player of the opposing club, the Umpire or the spectators, and 
not more than two Coachers, who may be one player participating in 
the game and any other player under contract to it, in the uniform of 
either club, shall be allowed at any one time. To enforce the above, 
the Captain of the opposite side may call the attention of the Umpire 
to the offense, and, upon a repetition of the same, the offending player 
shall be debarred from further participation in the game and sliall 
leave the playing held forthwith. 

SCORING OF RUNS. 

Rule 53. One run shall be scored every time a Base Runner, after 
having legally touched the first three bases, shall touch the Home 
Base before 'three men are put out by (exception). If the third 
man is forced out, or is put out before reaching First Base, a run 
shall not be scored. 

THE UMPIRE. 
Rule 54. The Umpire shall not be changed during the progress of 
a game, except for reasons of illness or injury. 

HIS POWERS AND JURISDICTION. 

Rule 55. Section 1. The Umpire is master of the Field from the 
commencement to the termination of the game, and is entitled to the 
respect of the spectators, and any person offering any insult or in- 
dignity to him must be promptly ejected from the grounds. 

Sec. 2. He must be invariably addressed by the players as Mr. 
Umpire ; and he must comjiel the^ players to observe the provisions of 
all the Playing Rules, and he is hereby invested with authority to 
order any player to do or omit to do any act as he may deem necessary, 
to give force and effect to any and all such provisions. 

SPECIAL DUTIES. 

Rule 56. The Umpire's duties shall be as follows : 

Section 1. The Umpire is sole and absolute judge of play. In no 
instance shall any person, except the Captain of the competing 
teams, be allowed to address him or to question his decisions, and they 
can only question him on an interpretation of the Rules. No Manager, 
or any other officer of either club, shall be permitted to go on the 
field or address the Umpire under a penalty of a forfeiture of a game. 

Sec. 2. Before the commencement of a game, the Umpire shall see 
that the rules governing all the materials of the game are strictly ob- 
served. He shall ask the Cai)tain of the Home Club v. hether there are 
any special ground rules to be enforced, and if there are, he shall see 
that they are duly enforced, i^rovided they do not conflict with any 
of these rules. 

Sec. 3. The Umpire must keep contesting- nines playing constantly, 
from the commencement of the game to its termination, allowing 
such delays only as are rendered unavoidable by accident, injury or 
rain. He must, until the completion of the game, require the play- 
ers of each side to promptly take their positions in the field as soon 
as the third man is init out, and must require the first striker of 
the opposite side to be in his position at the bat as soon as the Field- 
ers are in their places. 

Sec. 4. The Umpire shall count and call every "Unfair Ball" de- 
livered by the Pitcher, and every " Dead Ball," if also an unfair ball, 
as a " Bail," and he shall count and call every " Strike." Neither ^ 



170 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

*' Ball " nor a " Strike " shall be counted or called until the ball has 
passed the Home Base. He shall also declare every "Dead Ball," 
" Block," " Foul Hit," " Foul Strike," and " Balk," " Infield " or " Out- 
field Hit," as prescribed in Rule 45, Section 9. 

CALLING "play" AND "TIME." 

Rule 57. The Umpire must call "Play" in-omptly at the hour 
designated by the Home Club, and on the call of " Play " the game 
must immediately begin. When he calls " Time " play shall be sus- 
pended until he calls "Play " again, and during the interim no i)layer 
shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored. The Umpire shall sus- 
pend play only for an accident to himself or a player (but in case of 
accident to a Fielder " Time " shall not be called until the ball be re- 
turned to and held by the Pitcher, standing in his i^osition), or in case 
rain falls so heavily that the si)ectators are comi)elled, by the severity 
of the storm, to seek shelter, in which case he shall note the time of 
suspension, and should rain continue to fall thirty minutes there- 
after, he shall terminate the game ; or to enforce order in case of an- 
noyance from spectators. 

Rule 58. The I^mpire is only allowed, by the Rules, to call " Time " 
in case of an accident to himself, or a player, a " Block," as referred to 
in Rule 35, Section 3, or in case of rain, as defined by the rule, 

finp:s and kemovals. 

Rule 59. The Umpire shall remove from the game and from the 
field any player guilty of indecent or vulgar language or conduct, and 
in addition thereto the player shall be fined the sum of $25. 

Rule 60. Section 1. The T'mpire is authorized to impose a fine of 
not less than five dollars nor more than ten dollars during the progress 
of the game, as follows : 

Sec. 2. For the Captain, Coacher, or any player of the contesting 
teams failing to remain within the bounds of his'^position as defined in 
these rules. This, however, shall not deprive the Captain of either 
team from appealing to the Umi)ire upon a question involving an inter- 
pretation of the rules. 

Sec. 3. For the disobedience by a player of any order of the TTmpire 
or any violation of these rules. 

Sec. 4. If a player is guilty of a second violation of this rule, the 
Um])ire shall impose a fine of twenty-five dollars, and, in his discretion, 
shall order the player from the game and from the field. For a third 
ofiense the TTmpire must positively order the ]dayer from the field, and 
forthwith notify the Captain of tlie team to which the player belongs, 
that, during the continuance of the game, he will impose' no further 
fines, but instantly remove a player guilty of any violation of these 
rules. 

Sec. 5. When the Umpire orders a player from the game he shall 
also insist upon the ].layer's removal from the field, and suspend play 
until this order is obeyed. 

Rile 61. No person shall be alloAved upon any part of the field 
during the progress of the game in addition to the players in uniform, 
the Manager on each side and the Umpire ; except such officers of the 
law as may be present in uniform, and such oflicials of the Home Club 
as may be necessary to preserve the peace. 

Rule 62. No Umpire, Manager, Captain or player shall address the 
spectators during the progress of a game, except in case of necessary 
explanation. 

RrLE63. Every Club shall furnish sufficient police force upon its 
own ground to preserve order, and in the event of a crowd entering the 
field during the progress of a game, and interfering with the play in 
any manner, the Visiting Club raay refiLse to play further until'the 
field be cleared. If the ground be not (;leared withi;i fifteen minutes 



TtlE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 171 

thereafter, the Visiting Chib may claim, and shall be entitled to, the 
^ame by a score of nine runs to none (no matter what number of 
innings have been played). 

GENERAL DEFINITIONS. 

Rule 64. " Play " is the order of the Umpire to begin the game, or 
to resume i)lay after its suspension. 

Rule 65. '* Time " is the order of the Umpire to sus])end play. Such 
suspension must not extend beyond the day of the game. 

Rule 66. "Game" is the announcement by the Umpire that the 
game is terminated. 

Rule 67. An "Inning" is the term at bat of the nine i)layers 
representing a Club in a game, and is completed when three of such 
players have been put out, as provided in these rules. 

Rule 68. A "Time at Bat" is the term at bat of a Batsman. It 
begins when he takes his position, and continues until he is put out or 
becomes a base runner ; except when, because of being hit by a i)itched 
ball, or in case of an illegal delivery by the Fitcdier, or in case of a 
sacrifice hit i)urposely made to the iiifield Mdiich, not being a base hit, 
advances a base runner without resulting in a put out, except to the 
Batsman, as in Rule 45. 

Rule 69. "Legal" or "Legally" signifies as required ])y these 
rules. 

SCORING. 

Rule 70. In order to promote uniformity in scoring championship 
games the following instructions, suggestions and definitions are made 
for the benefit of scorers, and they are required to make all scores in 
accordance therewith. 

BATTING. 

Section 1. The first item in the tabulated score, after the player's 
name and position, shall be the number of times he has been at bat 
during the game. The time or times when the player has been sent to 
base by being hit by a pitched ball, by the pitcher's illegal delivery, 
or by a base on balls, shall not be included in this column. 

Sec. 2. In the second column should be set down the runs made by 
each player. 

Sec. 3. In the third column should be placed the first base hits made 
by each player. A base hit should be scored in the following cases : 

When the ball from the bat strikes the ground within the foul lines, 
and out of reach of the Fielders. 

When a hit ball is partially or wholly stopped by a Fielder, in 
motion, but such player cannot recover himself in time to handle the 
ball before the striker reaches First Base. 

When a hit ball is hit so sharply to an infielder that he cannot handle 
it in time to put out the Batsman. In case of doubt over this class of 
hits, score a base hit, and exemi)t the Fielder from the charge of an 
error. 

When a ball is hit so slowly toward a Fielder that he cannot handle 
it in time to put out the Batsman. 

That in all cases where a Base Runner is retired by being hit by a 
batted ball, the Batsman should be credited with a base hit. 

When a batted ball hits the person or clothing of the Umpire, as 
defined in Rule 48, Section 5. 

Sec. 4. In the fourth column shall be placed Sacrifice Hits, which 
shall be credited to the Batsman, who, when no one is out, or when but 
one man is out, advances a Runner a base by a bunt sacrifice hit, which 
results in putting out the Batsman, or would so result if the ball were 
handled without error. 



172 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

FIELDING. 

Sec. 5. The number of opponents put out by each player shall be set 
down in the fifth column. Where a Batsman is ^iven out by the 
Umpire for a foul strike, or where the Batsman fails to bat in proper 
order, the put out shall be scored to the Catcher. 

Sec. G. The number of times the player assists shall be set down in 
the sixth column. An assist should be given to each player who 
handles the ball in assisting a run out or other play of the kind. 

An assist should be given to a player Avho makes a play in time to put 
a Runner out, even if the player who could complete the play fails, 
through no fault of the player assisting. 

And generally an assist should be given to each player who handles 
or assists in any manner in handling the ball from the time it leaves 
the bat until it reaches the player who makes the put out, or in case of 
a thrown ball, to each player w-ho throws or handles it cleanly, and in 
such a way that a put out results, or would result if no error were made 
by the receiver. 

ERRORS. 

Sec. 7. An error shall be given in the seventh column for each mis- 
play which allows the striker or base runner to make one or more 
bases whenlperfect play would have insured his being put out, except 
that " wild pitches," "bases on balls," bases on the Batsman being- 
struck by a "pitched ball," or in case of illeg:al pitched balls, balks 
and passed balls, shall not be included in said column. In scoring 
errors of batted balls see Section 3, of this Rule, 

Sec. 8. Stolen Bases shall be scored as follows : 

Any attempt to steal a base must go to the credit of the Base Runner, 
whether the ball be thrown wild or muffed by the fielder; but any 
manifest error is to be charged to the fielder making the same. If the 
Base Runner advances another base he shall not be credited with a 
stolen base, and the fielder allowing the advancement is also to be 
charged with an error. If the Base Runner makes a start and a battery 
error is made, the runner secures the credit of a stolen base, and the 
battery error is scored against the player making it. Should a Base 
Runner overrun a base and then be put out, he shall receive the credit 
for the stolen base. If a Base Runner advances a base on a fly out, or 
gains two bases on a single base hit, or an infield out, or attempted out, 
he shall be credited with a stolen base, provided there is a possible 
chance and a palpable attempt made to retire him. 

earned runs. 

Sec. 9. An earned run shall be scored every time a player reaches 
the home base unaided by errors before chances have been oftered to 
retire the side. 

THE SUMMARY. 

Rule 71. The Summary shall contain : 

Sec. 2. The number of two-base hits made by each player. 

Sec. 3. The number of three-base hits made by each player. 

Sec. 4. The number of home runs made by each player. 

Sec. 5. The number of bases stolen by each player. ' 

Sec. G. The number of double and triple plays made by each side, 
and the names of the players assisting in the same. 

Sec. 7. The number of men given bases on called balls by each 
Pitcher. 

Se(\ 8. The number of men given bases from being hit by i)itched 
balls. 

Sec. 9. The number of men struck out. 

Sec. 10. The number of passed balls by each Catcher. 

Sec. 11. The number of wild pitches liy each Pitcher. 

Sec. 12. The time of Game. 

Sec. 13. The name of the Umpire. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 173 



NATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR 1896, 



The full official text of the National Agreement as 
amended and adopted by the National League at New 
York, Feb. 24, 1896, is herewith given:— 

National Agreement of Professional Base-ball 
Associations adopted by the National Board of Arbi- 
tration, February 24, 1896. 

name. 

Article 1. This instrument shall be called "The 
National Agreement of Professional Base-ball Asso- 
ciations." 

OBJECTS. 

Article 2. The objects of this agreement are: 

1. To perpetuate base-ball as the national game of 
America, and to surround it with such safeguards as 
to warrant absolute public confidence in its integrity 
and methods. 

2. To promote and afford protection to such minor 
Professional Base-ball Leagues and Associations as 
may desire to operate under its provisions. 

THE GOVERNING POWER. 

Article 3. The governing power under this agree- 
ment, which shall be called "The National Board of 
Arbitration," shall be vested in four representatives 
selected by the National League and American Asso- 
ciation of Professional Base-ball Clubs hereinafter 
designated the Major League, and such representatives 
from minor organizations of Professional Base-ball 
Clubs hereinafter designated Minor Leagues as may 
be admitted to membership by the National Board of 
Arbitration from time to time under the rules govern- 
ing membership. 



174 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

THE ANNUAL MEETING. 

Article 4. The annual meeting of the National 

Board shall be held on the of each year, at which 

time the representatives elected by the Major League 
shall elect a President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the 
Board. 

DUTIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL BOARD. 

Article 5. — 1. The general enforcement of this 
agreement, the protection of rights thereunder, the 
determination of all controversies as hereinafter pro- 
vided and generally the regulation of all things within 
the scope of this Agreement are each and severally 
conferred upon and committed to the National Board 
of Arbitration. 

2. The Board may adopt rules and regulations 
prescribing the duties of each and all of its members 
and officers, its methods of procedure and the general 
transaction of its business. 

3. It shall be the duty of the Board and it shall 
have full and final jurisdiction: — 

To hear and determine all disputes and complaints 
between associations and clubs; between one club and 
another, members of different associations; between 
clubs and players or managers, and, in addition 
thereto, all disputes and complaints arising under and 
of all matters involving the interpretation of the 
National Agreement or the disposition of the rights, 
thereunder. Clubs belonging to the same association, 
by mutual consent, or upon the request of the associa- 
tion to which they belong, may refer any controversy 
between such club, or in which such clubs are inter- 
ested, to the Board for decision or adjustment. 

POWER TO IMPOSE FINES. 

4. In the performances of its duties the Board 
shall have power to impose fines or penalties upon as- 



THE VICTOR BASKBALL GUIDE. 175 



sociations, clubs, club officers, players, managers, 
scorers and umpires, and to suspend any such organ- 
ization or person from the protection and privileges 
of the National Agreement in any instance in which 
in its opinion, it or he shall have been guilty of con- 
duct detrimental to the general welfare of the game 
or in violation of the letter or spirit of the National 
Agreement. 

DECISION FINAL. 

5. Its decision shall be final over any and all mat- 
ters within its jurisdiction. 

REINSTATEMENTS. 

6. It may reinstate any person or body suspended. 

ASSESSMENTS, 

7. It shall have power to make such reasonable 
assessments upon clubs or associations as may be 
necessary to defray the expenses incidental to the 
performance of its duties and the enforcement of this 
Agreement. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

8. It may make all orders, rules and regulations 
which it may deem necessary for the performance of 
its duties and the exercise of its power, and to accom- 
plish the purpose in view may amend and supplement 
the same from time to time ; provided, notice of all 
changes, amendments or supplements be given to all 
organizations party to this agreement. 

DECISIONS PROMULGATED. 

9. It may cause the proceedings or rulings, or any 
part thereof, in any case which may be deemed of 
sufficient importance to serve as a precedent, to be 
published in such a manner as may be prescribed. 



176 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS. 

lO. Whenever any body or persons shall desire to 
submit any matter for the consideration of the Board 
it shall be presented to the chairman by a concise 
statement thereof, and accompanied by such evidence 
as may be in support of such statement. Notice shall 
be given to any other body or person interested in the 
matter to make answer and to present appropriate 
evidence in support thereof. 

MINOR LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP. 

Article 6. An application for membership and 
protection under this Agreement must be made in 
writing or by telegraph to the Secretary of the Board. 
If made by telegraph it must state the name of the 
league, the cities comprising the circuit, and have the 
signature of the president of the league, which must 
be followed within ten days by a written application 
to the Secretary of the Board stating the name of the 
league, the cities comprising the circuit, the repre- 
sentatives of the respective cities, the location of their 
business offices and playing grounds, if practical, the 
monthly salary limit for its club teams and maximum 
monthly salary limit of its players, a pledge or agree- 
ment for the maintenance of said salary limit and the 
faithful performance of its obligations under this 
Agreement, its own Constitution and By-Laws, and its 
other contractual obligations, which club membership, 
location of club officers and playing grounds, salary 
limit. Constitution, Agreement, By-Laws and pledges 
shall not after approval by the Board be changed, 
modified, altered or released without the assent of the 
Board. 

CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP. 

Article 7. The Board, upon the receipt of an ap- 
plication for protection and membership under this 
Agreement, shall after consideration and approval 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 177 

determine the class under which the application shall 
be admitted, the said classification to be based upon 
the average population of the cities composing the 
league according to the last published U. S. Census 
preceding the application, and the membership fee 
shall be an amount fixed by the Board for leagues of 
that class. 

MINOR LEAGUE REPRESENTATION. 

Article 8. Each Minor League shall be entitled to 
one representative of its own selection, who shall 
have the right to appear before the Board upon any or 
all matters pertaining to its interest or welfare, but 
the Board may at its discretion invite additional rep- 
resentation in the adjustment of any matter which 
may be brought before it. 

FEB FOR PROTECTION AND MEMBERSHIP. 

Article 9. The fee for membership and protection 
under this Agreement with the right of reservation 
subject to Articles 10 and 11 shall be : — 

For each Club in Class A the sum of $75. 

For each Club in Class B the sum of $50. 

For each Club in Class C the sum of $40. 

For each Club in Class D the sum of $30. 

For each Club in Class E the sum of $20. 

For each Club in Class F the sum of $10. 

Such payments to be made within thirty days from 
the date of filing the written application for member- 
ship. 

SELECTION OF PLAYERS BY THE MAJOR LEAGUE. 

Article 10. For the purpose of enabling players to 
advance in their profession the Major League may at 
any time after the first of October of each year and 
prior to the first of January following, with the con- 
sent of the Board, negotiate with any player then 



i 



178 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

under contract or reservation to a Minor League under 
this Agreement, and shall have the right to select 
such players upon payment to the Secretary of 
the Board of the sum specified in Article 12, provided 
that no such selection shall be enforced and no trans- 
fer of a player shall be made unless he shall receive an 
increase of salary. 

SELECTION OF PLAYERS BY MINOR LEAGUES. 

Article 11. For the purpose of enabling players to 
advance in their profession and to assist in building 
up clubs of minor leagues a club of a higher class shall 
have the right, with the consent of the Board, after 
January 1 of each year, and prior to the first of Feb- 
ruary following, to select its players from a league in 
a lower class upon payment to the Secretary of the 
Board of the sum specified in Article 12, provided that 
no such selection shall be enforced and no transfer of 
a player shall be made unless he shall receive an in- 
crease of salary, 

TERMS FOR SELECTION OF PLAYERS. 

Article 12. — Sec. 1. Clubs from a high class select- 
ing players from leagues of a lower class shall pay to 
the Secretary of the Board for the benefit and account 
of the club from which the selection is made the fol- 
lowing sums, viz.: — 

For players in Class A, $500. 

For players in Class B, $300. 

For players in Class C, $200. 

For players in Class D, $100. 

For players in Class E, $75. 

For players in Class F, $50. 

Sec. 2. Payments must be made at the time of 
selection, and unless such payment be withdrawn and 
the selection canceled by the selecting club within 
thirty days from the date of selection the Secretary of 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 179 

the Board shall remit to the club the amount received 
by him on account of such selection. 

Sec. 3. Any club entitled to make selection of a 
player and desiring to do so shall notify the Secretary 
of the Board stating the names of the player and of 
the club with which he is under contract and reserva- 
tion and enclosing the amount specified in Section 1, 
Article 12, to be paid for such release. The Secretary 
shall thereupon notify the club or league from which 
such selection is to be made and shall order his trans- 
fer to the selecting club. Notice of such selection 
and transfer shall thereupon be promulgated. 

ASSIGNMENT OF UNDEVELOPED PLATERS. 

Article 13. For the purpose of retaining control 
of undeveloped but promising players whose releases 
have been purchased, all Leagues, parties to this 
Agreement, may prior to the opening of its champion- 
ship season assign its surplus players to a club or 
any other league member party to this Agreement, 
upon mutual agreement between the clubs interested; 
providing no other club member of the League from 
which the assignment is to be made desires such 
player at the terms of such purchase. Notice of 
such transfers and assignments and the conditions 
governing must be filed with the Secretary of the 
Board, and the salary of the player must not be less 
than the salary limit adopted by the league to which 
he has been assigned. 

Article 14. Any club member of the Major League 
may at any time between April 1 and October 1 
negotiate with a club member of a Minor League, 
party to this agreement, for the release of a player 
from minor to major league, to take effect after Octo- 
ber 1 of the same year, or for an immediate release if 
the Constitution of such Minor League permits, and 
such release if secured shall, when filed with the Sec- 



180 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



1 



retary of the Board, become binding upon both clubs 
party to the transfer. 

Article 15. Any club member of a Minor League, 
party to this agreement, may at any time during its 
championship season negotiate for the immediate re- 
lease of a player from a club member of another 
League where the league Constitution of the releasing 
club permits, and such release if secured shall when 
filed with the Secretary of the Board become binding 
upon both clubs party to the transfer, providing the 
salary of the player so transferred during the cham- 
pionship season shall not be reduced during the bal- 
ance of the season unless he be given an unconditional 
release. 

CONTRACTS. 

Article 16. Contracts between clubs and players 
shall be in writing in the form approved by the Board. 
An informal contract, whether evidenced by telegram 
or other writing, shall be valid for a period of not ex- 
ceeding thirty days, but a formal contract must be ten- 
dered by the contracting club to the contracting 
player within said thirty days. The failure of the 
club to so tender such formal contract will release the 
player from all contractual obligations thereunder, 
and the refusal of the player to execute such formal 
contract, when so tendered, shall extend the validity 
of his informal contract until he shall execute said 
formal contract. 



UNLAWFUL CONTRACTS. 

Article 17. No club shall at any time enter into 
negotiations of contract with any player under con- 
tract to or reservation by another club without the 
latter's consent under such fines and penalties as the 
Board may inflict. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 181 

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP. 

Article 18. Application for membership by Minor 
Leagues desiring protection under this Agreement 
must be made each year to the Secretary of the Board 
as provided in Article 6. 

TERMINATION OP MEMBERSHIP. 

Article 19. All rights under this Agreement shall 
terminate on the first day of October unless renewed 
between the fifteenth and twenty-fifth of Septem- 
ber of each year according to Article 18. 

NEW LEAGUES. 

Article 20. Newly organized leagues may ask for 
and be admitted to membership at any time, but such 
membership shall terminate on the first of October 
following unless renewed according to Article 19. 

RESERVATION. 

Article 21. On or before the 25th day of Septem- 
ber in each year the secretaries of Minor Leagues, par- 
ties thereto, entitled to the privilege of reservation, 
shall transmit to the Secretary of the Board a reserve 
list of players, not exceeding fourteen in number, 
then under contract with each of its several club mem- 
bers for the current season, and in addition thereto a 
list of such players reserved in any prior annual re- 
serve list who have refused to contract with such clubs 
and of all ineligible players. Such players, together 
with all others thereafter to be regularly contracted 
with by such clubs, are and shall be ineligible to con- 
tract with any other club of any league, except as 
herein prescribed. The Secretary of said Board shall 
thereupon promulgate such lists, provided that no 
club shall be permitted to reserve any player while in 
arrears of salary to him. 



182 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

RELEASE FROM RESERVATION. 

Article 22. The Board may also release from con- 
tract or reservation any player or manager when the 
club with which he has contracted, or by which he has 
been reserved, shall be in arrears to him for salary for 
more than fifteen days after such salary became due ; 
or when the reserving club has failed to tender to any 
player, on or before the first day of March, after such 
reservation, a formal contract, with a salary of at least 
such an amount per month as the Board may fix as 
the minimum salary to be paid to such player, or when 
any such reserving club has transferred its member- 
ship after the close of the championship season to a 
different league, if the Board shall deem that the 
player will be prejudiced by such transfer. 

INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN CONFLICT WITH 
THB NATIONAL AGREEMENT. 

Article 23. — Sec. 1. Any club member of any 
minor league or association, a party to or identified 
with this National Agreement, that shall enter into 
any negotiation to become a member of or in any way 
co-operate with any organization of Professional Base- 
ball Clubs whose existence will in any manner con- 
flict with the letter and spirit of this Agreement or 
the interests of any of the clubs operating under it, 
shall forthwith forfeit all rights and privileges conferred 
by this Agreement ; said forfeiture to include its 
membership in any association a party to this Agree- 
ment, and all rights or reservation to players reserved 
during the current or any preceding season. The 
penalty herein imposed shall be positive and final, and 
shall not be revoked unless by the unanimous consent 
of the Board or upon appeal by a three-fourths vote 
of the Major League. 

Sec. 2. Any officer, manager or player who shall 
enter into any such negotiations as referred to in Sec- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 183 

tion 1, Article 23, or who shall agree or contract to 
play with any club a member of such organization, 
shall be declared ineligible and subject to all the dis- 
abilities referred to in the preceding paragraph. 

DISQUALIFIED PLATERS. 

Article 24. When a player or manager under con- 
tract or reservation by any club of an association 
party thereto shall be expelled, suspended or rendered 
ineligible in accordance with the provisions of this 
Agreement or the rules of such association, notice of 
such disqualification shall be given to the said Board 
by the Secretary of the association from whose club the 
player may have been thus disqualified, and the Board 
shall forthwith give notice of such disqualification to 
the several Leagues acting under this Agreement. 
When a player shall become ineligible under the pro- 
visions of this Agreement, or by order of the Board, 
the Secretary of the Board shall notify the several 
clubs acting under this Agreement of such disqualifi- 
cation. From the receipt of any such notice all club 
members of associations acting under this Agreement 
shall be debarred from employing or playing with or 
against such disqualified player until the period of dis- 
qualification shall have terminated or the disqualifica- 
tion be revoked by the association from which such 
player was disqualified or by the Board, and due notice 
of such revocation shall be given by the Board to the 
said several clubs. 

SUSPENSION OF PLAYERS. 

Article 25. Any player who has entered into a con- 
tract with any club of an association party hereto may 
be suspended without pay or fined by such club or asso- 
ciation for breach of contract or breach of any of the 
rules of such club or association, and he shall there- 
after be ineligible to sign or play during the remainder 



184 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

of the current season with any of the clubs of any as- 
sociation acting thereunder, unless such disability 
shall have been sooner removed by the club or asso- 
ciation by which he was suspended or by the Board. 

ACCEPTANCE OP SERVICE. 

Article 36. Upon the release of a player from con- 
tract or reservation with any club member of an asso- 
ciation then acting under this Agreement (unless the 
release be made by " selection " under Article 10 or 
11) the service of such player shall at once be subject to 
acceptance by any club belonging to the same associa- 
tion, expressed in writing or by telegraph to the Secre- 
tary of the Board, for a period of ten days after notice 
of said release; and thereafter, if said services be not so 
accepted, said player may negotiate and contract with 
any club. The releasing club shall send notice to the 
Secretary of the Board of said player's release on the 
date thereof, and the latter shall promulgate any 
acceptance of his services. Provided that the disband- 
ment of a club or its expulsion from membership in 
either association acting hereunder shall operate as a 
release of all of its players from contract with or res- 
ervation by said club. But the services of such play- 
ers shall at once be subject to the acceptance of such 
association for a period of ten days for the purpose of 
supplying the vacancy in its membership. 

CONTROL AND DISCIPLINE. 

Article 27. Each association shall have the right 
to make and enforce all rules and regulations pertain- 
ing to the control, discipline, and compensation of all 
players under contract with its club members. And 
it may prescribe that all contracts with its players 
shall be made directly with said association, assignable 
to its club members, with the right of reservation 
to be exclusively exercised by said association, in 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 185 

which event all the provisions of this Agreement ap- 
plying to contracts or reservation of players with and 
by club members, shall apply to such contract and 
reservation of players with and by said association ; 
provided that such rules and regulations shall in no 
way conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, 
or any rule, regulation, or order of the Board. 

TERRITORIAL RIGHTS. 

Article 38. Each Minor League whose application 
for membership under this Agreement has been ac- 
cepted by the Board shall have exclusive control of 
its own territory until the termination of its member- 
ship, and no club from any other League party to this 
Agreement shall be allowed to play a game in any 
city of its circuit without the consent of the club rep- 
resenting such city, nor shall any club member of a 
Minor League party hereto be allowed to play a game 
within five miles of any city in which is located a club 
member of the Major League, without the consent of 
such club. 

INELIGIBLE PLAYERS. 

Article 29. No game shall be played between any 
club of any league acting hereunder, or any of its 
players under contract or reservation, with any club 
containing an ineligible player ; nor with a club that 
has played with another club containing such ineligi- 
ble player. A violation of thig section shall subject 
each offender to fine, suspension, or expulsion, in the 
discretion of the Board. 

TRANSFER OF PLAYERS. 

Article 30. Should a club of any association agree 
in writing or by telegraph with another club of an 
association, subject to the National Agreement, for 
the release of any player then under contract or res- 
ervation with or by it, in accordance with the rules 
governing, either party may file said agreement with 



186 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

the Secretary of the Board, and should any such club 
refuse to comply with its said Agreement the Board 
may require said Agreement to be complied with and 
may transfer the said player accordingly. 

PAYMENTS OF SALARIES. 

Article 31. Before any League shall be granted 
the privilege and protection of this Agreement it shall 
enact laws or regulations debarring any of its clubs 
from entering into contract with any player while 
under arrears of salary to him, and from suspending 
or otherwise attempting to disqualify such player for 
refusing to contract while it is so in arrears, and shall 
also provide for the expulsion of any club for refusal 
to pay arrears of salary to a player when required by 
said League or by the Board. 

FORFEITURE OF RIGHTS.* 

Article 32. All rights of any league hereunder shall 
be forfeited for failing to expel any of its club mem- 
bers that may play a game of ball except under the 
Playing Rules adopted by the National League and 
American Association of Professional Base-ball Clubs. 

DEFINITION OF TERMS. 

Article 33. The term " league or association " as 
herein used shall mean and comprise an organization 
of professional base-ball clubs of not less than four 
clubs, whether known as a "league," ''association," 
or by any other designation. 

Article 34. This Agreement may be altered or 
amended at any time by the unanimous consent of the 
Board, or upon the recommendation of any of the par- 
ties hereto subscribing. It shall take effect and be in 
force from and after February 24, 1896. And all 
former Agreements are hereby revoked. 

♦Thisls the Clause which discriminates against the Victor ball and 
takes away from minor leagues the privilege of selecting the ball they 
wish to use. This Clause also shows how valueless adoptions are as 
proofs of merit in base-balls. 



\ 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 187 

MINOR LEAGUES VS. NATIONAL 
AGREEMENT. 



At the spring meeting of the National League in 
New York, Feb. 24, the National Agreement, which is 
practically the fundamental law of base-ball as profes- 
sionally conducted, was amended to such an extent as 
to make it virtually a new agreement. In this new 
agreement some concessions are made to the minor 
leagues in the face of a threatened rebellion. But on 
the whole the power of the National League as the 
dominant force is increased ; in short, for every inch 
yielded to the minor leagues the National League 
took to itself an additional yard. 



THE minors' small GAIN. 



The points in favor of the minor leagues are : Ex- 
tension of the reservation privilege and the drafting 
system, limitation of the League's drafting period, in- 
creased protection against tampering with players 
during the playing season, and more precise definition 
and widened application of territorial rights. The 
National League, however, took more than it gave, as 
by extending reservation privileges to practically all 
minor leagues, no matter how small, it aims to secure 
better control of the base-ball business and to play the 
little leagues against the larger minor leagues 
with aspirations for major league rank. The limitation 
of the drafting system and definition of territorial 
rights involves no sacrifice for the big League, as its 
territory doesn't conflict with that of any minor league 
nor can the latter invade League territory, while two 
months for drafting give ample time for looting all the 
desirable playing material. 



188 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



WHAT THE LEAGUE GAINS. 

But the big League gains directly through classifica- 
tion of minor leagues, reduction of drafting prices, 
legalizing of the farming system, and through the 
absolute destruction of all present or future independ- 
ence of any league once it makes itself party to 
this agreement. A perusal of Article 23, Section 1, 
will serve to show the vast power and broad jurisdic- 
tion assumed by the Board of Arbitration over all 
leagues, clubs, and players, the moment they seek 
protection, and how completely they are thenceforth 
fettered. It is aimed particularly at those minor 
leagues containing cities large enough to become 
members of any future rival major league, and is par- 
ticularly designed, along with the classification system, 
to forestall and crush out any ambition for major 
league rank in the leading minor leagues of the 
country — as for instance the Western League and 
the Eastern League, These are to remain in the 
future what they have been in the past — training 
schools for the big League. 

LEAGUE AGGRANDIZEMENT. 

But the greatest advantage the League derives is 
from the reduction of drafting prices and the legaliz- 
ing of the farming system. By the reduced drafting 
price the League is enabled at comparatively small 
cost to itself to pick each year the best talent of the 
minor leagues. The effect will be to keep the clubs 
of the latter in a semi-disorganized condition and pre- 
vent the up-building of teams strong enough in time 
to rank with those of the major League. Through the 
farming system the many players so cunningly and 
cheaply taken from the leading leagues can be loaned 
to needy clubs. The League is thus saved the expense 
of the maintenance of these players and yet retains 
interminable control over them. It is easy to see how 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 189 

in a few years the National League will inevitably, 
through this double-action drafting-loaning juggle, 
directly own all the desirable players in the profession, 
while the minor leagues will have no assets except worth- 
less franchises and be completely at the tender mercy 
of the big League. The worst wars would make the 
minor league situation no more deplorable than it will 
become through this peaceable method of spoliation. 

LESSONS OF HISTOBY. 

That the minor leagues should, year after year, suffer 
humiliation and spoliation, despite their real power, is 
one of the anomalies of base-ball. The major League 
has always received the most loyal support from 
the minor leagues. In the wars of 1884, 1890-91, the 
minor leagues, singly and collectively, stood by the 
National Agreement, of which they were the smallest 
beneficiaries. Yet always was fresh contumely and 
increased oppression their reward. The first agree- 
ment was the Tripartite Agreement of 1884 to which 
the National League, American Association, and 
Northwestern League were equal parties. When the 
object of the agreement — the crushing out of the 
Union Association — was accomplished the National 
League and American Association promptly arrogated 
to themselves all the privileges of the agreement, 
according the minor leagues the mere shadow of 
protection, viz., recognition of their contracts during 
the playing season. 

SMALL RECOGNITION. 

From that period up to 1890 the National League 
and American Association manipulated the National 
Agreement to suit their own purposes without any 
reference to or consideration for the minor leagues. It 
was simply a game of diplomacy between the two big 
leagues to do each other up, at which game the 



190 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

National League proved so superior tiiat it gradually;! 

drov^e the Association to the wall and all but out of 

existence. It was not until after years of labor by the 

champion of the minor leagues and the press, notably 

"Sporting Life" of Philadelphia, that the leading 

minor leagues were accoidedthe resenvation privilege, 

and it was not until 1891 that a minor league ever 

secured admission to the rank of party of the first 

part. During the tremendous Players' League war 

of 1890 the minor leagues and even the disrupted, 

downtrodden, and despised American Association 

stood loyally by the National Agreement. In the 

reorganization of 1891 the Western League received 

its reward by being made an equal party to the new 

National Agreement with the National League and 

American Association, and when the latter, goaded to 

desperation, in the spring of 1891, broke away from 

the Agreement, the Western League and the minor 

leagues again stood loyally by the National League 

and the Agreement throughout the war with the 

revolted American Association. 



ALWAYS THE SAME TREATMENT. 

But as usual this loyalty was ill- requited. When 
the consolidation of the National League and Ameri- 
can was effected in 1892, from which arose the present 
all-powerful twelve-club organization, the latter 
formulated a new National Agreement framed by it- 
self without consultation with, consent of, or considera- 
tion for, any other base-ball organization, in which the 
new National League constituted itself the sole arbiter 
of the base-ball world, and in which all the minor 
leagues of whatever degree were lumped as parties 
of the second part, without voice or representation. 
This is the Agreement which has stood for four years 
and which was so radically amended at the February 
meeting of the League without, however, according the 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 191 



minor leagues any better treatment than they have 
hitherto enjoyed. 

A MOVE TOWARD UNION. 

What few concessions were made in this Agreement 
were solely due to an unusually aggressive move, on part 
of the leading minor leagues, toward a union among 
themselves. This move went so far as temporary or- 
ganization of a board of minor league presidents, with 
President Thomas J. Hickey of the Western Associa- 
tion as chairman. It is a singular fact that a union 
of minor leagues was not effected years ago consid- 
ering the elements of power inherent in the minor 
leagues. The latter cover far more territory than the 
big League and are therefore more representative. 
They have the support of at least three limes as many 
papers as the big League enjoys, and they employ at 
least five times as many players. 

ELEMENTS OF POWER. 

Here it is where unitedly the minor leagues could 
exert a greater power than the National League could 
possibly wield. The limited number of skilled players 
controlled by the big League constitutes a special class 
who must come up to a special standard to keep their 
places in the big League, failing which they must re- 
turn whence they came, to the minor leagues. The 
latter employ all classes of players; in them the player 
gets his start, from them he progresses by gradations 
to the major League, and to them he must return to 
end his career when his major League day is over. It 
will thus be seen that were the minor leagues ever to 
present a united front their only vulnerable point — 
their hold on the players — w^ould be made invulnerable, 
since no player with any regard for his professional 
future would dare to court the terror of perpetual 
minor league disqualification by breaking a contract 



193 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

or disregarding minor league reservation, no matter 
how tempting the League offer. 

ONLY UNION NEEDED. 

In other words through union the minor leagues 
would hold the players in the hollow of their hands 
and would furthermore be in position to solve 
for themselves all salary questions just as the National 
League succeeded in doing when it absorbed its only 
business competitor, the American Association. It 
will thus be seen that in union the minor league posi- 
tion would be impregnable. That such a union was 
not effected long ago can only be ascribed to the long- 
ingrained habit of submission, and also, perhaps, to 
the fact that within the ranks of the minor leagues 
are to be found many men, some in high position, 
with pronounced and, perhaps, profitable League senti- 
ment and affiliation. The minor leagues thus illus- 
trate most forcibly the old truism that *'a house 
divided against itself must fall," while the National 
League equally forcibly proves that not in numbers but 
in union there is strength. 



I 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 198 



THE ROSTER FOR 1896. 



Following is a roster of all the organized leagues 
for this year, giving the officials of the various organ- 
izations, club members and managers. The list of 
players is not given for the reason that ball teams are 
subject to constant change. This roster will be found 
not only interesting but will serve excellently as a 
complete directory for the coming season : — 

The National Board of Arbitration. 

Charles H. Byrne, Eastern Park, Brooklyn ; A. H. 
Soden, 126 Water street, Boston ; John T. Brush, 
Indianapolis. Secretary, N. E. Young, Box 536, 
Washington, D. C. 

National League. 

President-Secretary-Treasurer, N. E. Young, Box 
536, Washington, D. C. 

Club Members. — Boston : A. H. Soden, president ; 
Frank Selee, manager. Brooklyn : C. H. Byrne, 
president ; David Foutz, manager. Baltimore : Ed- 
ward H. Hanlon, president and manager. Chicago : 
James A. Hart, president ; A. C. Anson, manager. 
Cleveland : F. De H. Robison, president ; Oliver 
Tebeau, manager. Cincinnati : John T. Brush, presi- 
dent ; William Ewing, manager. Louisville : Dr. 
Stucky, president ; John J. McClosky, manager. 
Philadelphia : A. J. Reach, president ; William Shetts- 
line, manager. Pittsburg : W. W. Kerr, president ; 
Connie Mack, manager. St. Louis : C. Von der Ahe, 
president ; H. H. Diddlelock, manager. New York : 
Andrew Freedman, president ; Arthur Irwin, manager. 
Washington : J. E. Wagner, president ; A. Schuelz, 
manager. 

Umpires. — T. J. Lynch, Tim Hurst, R. Emslie, H. 
Henderson, George Weidman, Tim Keefe, John Sher- 
idan. 



194 the victor baseball guide. 

Western League. 

Ban. B. Johnson, president-secretary-treasurer, 
care Commercial Gazette, Cincinnati, O. 

Club Members. — Columbus, O.: Thomas J. Loftus, 
president and manager. Detroit : George A. Vander- 
beck, president ; G. Stallings, manager. Grand Rap- 
ids : George Ellis, president ; John J. Carney, man- 
ager. Indianapolis : J. A. Golt, president ; William 
H. Watkins, manager. Kansas City : James H. Man- 
ning, president and manager. Milwaukee : J. Killilea, 
president ; Larry Twitchell, manager. Minneapolis: 
John Goodnow, president ; Walter Wilmot, manager. 
St. Paul : Charles Comisky, president and manager. 

Umpires.^ — Charles N. Snyder, James McDonald, 
" Sandy ^' McDermott, F. W. Murphy. 

Eastern League. 

Club Members. — Buffalo : James Franklin, presi- 
dent ; John Rour, manager. Rochester : C. A. Lemi- 
gruler, president ; Dan Shannon, manager. Syracuse: 
George Kuntzsch, president; Charles Reilley, manager. 
Toronto : A. C. Buckenberger, president and man- 
ager. Scranton : T. K. Simpson, president ; William 
McDermott, manager. Springfield : J. A. Powers, 
president ; Thomas A. Burns, manager. Providence : 
E. A. Draper, president ; William Murray, manager. 
Wilkesbarre : B. F. Bogert, president ; H. Earle, 
manager. 

Umpires. — John Gaffney, Edward Swartwood, 
Joseph Lindon, Thomas J. Kelly, and Herman 
Doescher. 

Western Association. 

Thomas J. Hickey, president-secretary-treasurer, 
621 Edmond street, St. Joseph, Mo. 

Club Members. — Burlington, la. : E. J. Hengle, 
manager. Cedar Rapids, la. : William Ebright, man- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 195 

ager. Dubuque, Ta. : Harry Raymond, manager. 
Des Moines, la. : William Traffley, manager. Peoria, 
111. : William Dugdale, manager. Qaincy, 111. : George 
W. Brackett, manager. Rockford, 111. : Hugh Nicol, 
manager. St. Joseph, Mo. : Frank Halle r, manager. 

Umpires. — John Haskell, R. Caruthers, J. E. 
Allen. 

New England League. 

President-treasurer, Timothy Murnane, Boston 
Globe, Boston, Mass. Secretary, J. C. Morse, The 
Herald, Boston, Mass. 

Club Members.— Brockton, Mass. : Walter W. 
Burnham, manager. Bangor, Me. : William Long, 
manager. Augusta, Me. : C. W. Herrington, man- 
ager. Fall River, Mass. : W. A. Marston, manager. 
Lewiston, Me. : M. J. Gerrity, manager. New Bed- 
ford, Mass. : Fred Doe, manager. Portland, Me. : 
Frank Leonard, manager. Pawtucket, R. I. : John 
A, Smith, manager. 

Atlantic Association. 

President-secretary-treasurer, Samuel Crane, care 
Daily Advertiser, New York City. 

Club Members. — Hartford, Conn. : William Bar- 
nie, manager. Jersey City, N. J. : John Irwin, man- 
ager. Newark, N. J. : Thomas P. Burns, manager. 
New Haven, Conn. : Ted Sullivan, manager. Pater- 
son, N. J. : E. K. Barrows, manager. Wilmington, 
Del. : Dennis A. Long, manager. 

Umpires. — Charles Jones, Jerry Sullivan. 

Southern League. 

President-secretary-treasurer, Henry Powers, 640 
Commercial Place, New Orleans, La. 

Club Members. — Atlanta, Ga. : James A. Knowles, 
manager. Birmingham, Ala. : John C. Strouthers, 
manager. Little Rock, Ark. : A. McFarland, man- 



196 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUmE. 

ager. Nashville, Tenn. : D. Sweeney, manager. New 
Orleans, La. : Abner Powell, manager. Memphis, 
Tenn. : Charles A. Frank, manager. Montgomery, 
Ala. : Richard Gorman, manager. Mobile, Ala. : 
Manager not selected. 

Virginia League. 

President, J. M. McLaughlin, Lynchbiarg, Va. Sec- 
retary-treasurer, J. C. Small, Richmond, Va. 

Club Members. — Lynchburg : W. A. Smith, man- 
ager. Norfolk : Claude McFarland, manager. Ports- 
mouth : Charles A. Marr, manager. Petersburg : V. 
E. Breen, manager. Richmond : Jacob Wells, man- 
ager. Roanoke : W. A. Boyer, manager. 

Umpires. — W. G. Betts, George A. Wood. 

Pacific League. 

President-secretary-treasurer, M. J. Roche, care 
Oregonian, Portland, Or. 

Club Members. — Seattle : Charles Campau, man- 
ager. Tacoma : J. S. Barnes, manager. Portland : 
R. J. Glenalvin, manager. Victoria, B. C. : Gus Klopf, 
manager. 

Umpires. — Frank W. March of Butte, Mont., and 
H. H. Suggs of Monmouth, 111. 

Michigan Leagub. 

President-secretary-treasurer, William H. Mumby, 
Corunna, Mich. 

Club Members. — Port Huron : W. H. Phillips, 
manager. Jackson: Leigh Lynch, manager. Adrian: 
R, L. Taylor, manager. Manistee : J. E. Killean, 
manager. Saginaw : George Black, manager. Kala- 
mazoo : O. G. Hungerford, manager. Lansing and 
Muskegon: Managers not selected. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 197 



Texas League. 

President-Treasurer, John L. Ward of Fort Worth; 
vice-president, W. G. Wilkins of Dallas ; secretary, 
Mr. Barlest of Austin. 

Club Members. — Austin : George W. Blackburn, 
manager. Dallas : William H. Earle, manager. Fort 
Worth : John L. Ward, manager. Galveston : George 
Work, manager. Houston : M. J. Garson, manager. 
San Antonio : Peter Brophey, manager. Dennison : 
F, P. Thyne, manager. Sherman : Manager not selected. 

Inter-State League. 

President-secretary -treasurer, C. B. Powers, care 
The Leader, Pittsburg, Pa. 

Club Members. — Toledo, O. : F. W. Torreyson, man- 
ager. Wheeling, West Virginia : L McKee, manager. 
Youngstown, O. : A. Hazen, manager. Fort Wayne, 
Ind. : George Tehan, manager. New Castle, Pa., and 
Washington, Pa. : Managers not selected. 

• Pennsylvania League. 

President-secretary-treasurer, Frank L. Hough, 
care Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Club Members. — Reading : John Mulligan, man- 
ager. Philadelphia : William Sharsig, manager. York : 
William Baublitz, manager. Lancaster : Frank P. 
Rinn, manager. Hazleton : Robert Westlake, man- 
ager. Carbondale : Martin Swift, manager. Easton, 
Al. Lawson, manager. At the time of going to press 
the eighth city had not been admitted. The proba- 
bilities, however, favored Harrisburg as opposed to 
Pottsville. 

Central Pennsylvania League. 

President, C. P. Helfenstein, Shamokin, Pa. ; vice- 
president, Dana Spence, Williamsport ; secretary, 
Fred A. Bickford, Lock Haven ; treasurer, J. B. 
Young, Mt. Carmel. 



198 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Club Members. — Lock Haven, Shamokin, Mt. Car- 
mel, Pottsville, Sunbury, and Williamsport. 

Missouri League. 

President, Dr. R. W. Hood, of Excelsior Springs ; 
secretary, Claude East, of Leavenworth. 

Club Members. — Sedalia, Leavenworth, Excelsior 
Springs, Webb City, Chillicothe, Louisiana, Spring- 
field, Atchison, Nevada, and Moberly. 

Cumberland Valley League. 

President, Edgar S. Farler, Gettysburg, Pa. ; sec- 
retary-treasurer, H. H. Greenebaum, Hagerstown, Md. 

Club Members. — Hagerstown, Md : W. H. Greene- 
baum, manager. Hanover, Pa. : John Sheeley, man- 
ager. Carlisle, Pa. : Bert Everson, manager. Cham- 
bersburg. Pa. : Clay Henniger, manager. 

Eastern International League. 

President-secretary, J. A. Clarke, Montreal, Can. 

Club Members. — Montreal, Farnham, St. Hyacinthe 
and Hull, Canada ; Malone and Plattsburg, N. Y. ; 
and St. Albans, Vt. 



LONGEST GAMES ON RECORD. 

The longest professional game of base-ball ever 
played was a game of 25 innings, between the Fargo 
and Grand Forks teams at Devil's Lake, N. D., July 
18, 189L Not a run was scored in the game. 

The longest Major League game on record was a 
game of 20 innings between the Cincinnati and Chicago 
teams at Chicago, June 30, 1892, darkness ending the 
game with the score a tie 7 to 7, neither team having 
made a run in the last 15 innings. Mullane and 
Gumbert were the pitchers. 

The longest championship game in any organization 
was played May 16, 1891, at Tacoma, Wash., between 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL. GUIDE. 199 

the Seattle and Tacoma teams of the Pacific Northwest 
League. The score stood a tie each inning after the 
sixth inning until the 23d inning, the Tacoma team 
then winning by 6 to 5. 

MATTERS OF RECORD. 

The quickest played games of base-ball on record 
were played at Dayton, O., Sept. 19, 1884, between 
the Dayton and Ironton teams ; and at San Francisco, 
Nov. 9, 1893, between the San Francisco and Oakland 
teams. Each game consumed exactly 47 minutes. 

The Detroit club in 1887 played the largest num- 
ber of games on record for a club in one season. From 
March 11 to Oct. 26, 188 games were played, 

Sam Thompson, now of the Philadelphia club, while 
a member of the Detroit team in 1887, participated in 
184 games, the largest number ever credited to a 
player for any one season. 

LONG DISTANCE THROWING. 

The record for long distance throwing has been held 
for many years by John Hatfield, long since retired. 
Hatfield threw a regulation base-ball 133 yds., 1 ft., 7^ 
inches, Oct. 15, 1872, in Brooklyn. 

There have been other notable performances, some 
surpassing Hatfield's feat, but not having been 
achieved under proper conditions, they have never been 
accepted as records. The most notable are : — 

Pitcher Ed Crane threw a base-ball 135 yds., 1 ft., 
J inch, Oct. 12, 1884, in Cincinnati and 134 yds., 6 
inches, Oct. 19, 1884, in St. Louis. 

Catcher Harry Vaughn threw a base-ball 134 yds., 
2^ inches June 23, 1890, at Buffalo. 

Outfielder Larry Twitchell threw a base-ball 135 yds., 
2 inches, July 29, 1893, at Macon, Ga. 



200 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

REVIEW OF THE SEASON OF 
1895. 



The baseball season of 1895 was in all respects the 
most successful on record, alike in the twelve club 
major league and in the minor leagues at large. 
Financially the season was exceedingly prosperous. 
In the National League all the clubs made a handsome 
profit on the season, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 
per club. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE PROFITS. 

A close estimate of the profits of the league clubs 
is as follows : Philadelphia, over $100,000 ; Chicago, 
$75,000; New York, $60,000; Brooklyn, $25,000; 
Baltimore, $50,000 ; Boston, $40,000; Pittsburg, $35,- 
000 ; St. Louis, $21,000 ; Washington and Cleveland, 
$15,000 each ; Louisville, $10,000. This estimate is 
based partly on published club statements, and partly 
on the known attendance. These data, combined 
with a pretty fair knowledge of salaries and expenses 
of each club, permit the above estimate, which can 
hardly vary ten per cent, from the actual figures so 
jealously guarded and kept secret by the magnates for 
obvious reasons. The league magnates have good 
reason for not inviting public attention to their little 
gold mines, or arousing other capitalists to the possi- 
bilities of major league baseball as a rich field, yielding 
large returns for comparatively small risk and invest- 
ment. 

THE MINOR LEAGUES 

also had a good year financially, although, of course, 
not to be compared to the National League, because 
of the less populous field cultivated. The Western 
League made great strides as a solid organization and 
succeeded in placing itself upon a better footing than 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDB. 201 

any other minor league has yet enjoyed. All the 
clubs of this organization cleared profits ranging from 
$20,000 down to $5,000. 

In the Eastern League the majority of the clubs 
made money, the balance managed to make ends meet, 
and all will be in the field this year for another trial. 

The New England League also had a good season, 
finishing in splendid shape with all the clubs that be- 
gan the season. Furthermore the league was so well 
conducted that it attracted to the support of the clubs 
a better class of capitalists than ever before. 

The Western Association did not have such smooth 
sailing as the previous year, two clubs — Omaha and 
Jacksonville — dropping out, the former through gross 
mismanagement, and the latter through the inability 
of the town to hold up its end in the rather expensive 
Association. The vacancies were however promptly 
filled by the admission of Dubuque and Burlington, 
and the Association finished its season in pretty fair 
condition. 

The Southern League alone, of all the leading minor 
leagues, did not enjoy unusual prosperity, and had 
hard work to finish the season with four clubs. The 
conditions in the South, however, are harder for base- 
ball than in any other section of the country, owing 
to the scarcity of populous cities and the vast area of 
territory to be covered to combine into a circuit the 
few large towns of the South. Under such conditions 
a thriving and profitable minor league is hardly to be 
looked for, and our Southern friends deserve credit 
for keeping the game going in their section as well as 
they have done. 

THE STATE LEAGUES. 

Of the various State leagues that began the season 
of 1895, only the Virginia League went through 
unscathed. This neat and well managed six-club 
organization had a fine, and, in the main, profitable 



202 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



campaign, and finished the season in good shape. The 
Pennsylvania League had a hard struggle, beginning 
the season with eight clubs and ending it with four, 
thanks to Mr. Alvin Markle, a wealthy Hazleton citizen, 
who personally carried three of the four clubs to the 
end. 

The New York State League started with eight 
clubs, but owing to internal dissensions and all round 
poor management, disbanded in July. The New 
England Association, which was virtually a Massachu- 
setts league, did not live even so long, owing to ina- 
bility to compete with the old, well-handled, and well- 
backed New England League. 

The Towa League started with eight clubs, and, after 
two reorganizations, disbanded in August. The Michi- 
gan League with six clubs managed to go through the 
season in fair shape. 

The Iron and Oil League lasted until August, when 
it disbanded, and two of its clubs joined the Tri-State 
League, thus giving the latter a new lease of life until 
September, when it too went by the board. 

THE NET RESULT. 

For the minor leagues, as a whole, the season, how- 
ever, was the best on record, as the remarkably few 
disbandments occurred only among the lesser State 
organizations ; the larger Inter-State leagues, such as 
the Western League, Eastern League, New England 
League, Western Association, and Southern League, 
all emerging from the season virtually intact and in 
position to resume business this year. This happy 
result may be mainly attributed to increased public 
interest and patronage, stricter adherence to salary- 
limits, and better business methods all around. 

In the National League circuit the chief factors in 
increased attendance were an unusually close and ex- 
citing championship race, and the extensive suppres- 
sion of the gambling sport of horse-racing, which 



hp 1' 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 203 

practically gave baseball a clear field as the only availa- 
ble summer sport for the masses in our large centers 
of population. This is attested by the fact that never 
before 1895 was the attendance so uniformly large 
in the closing months of the season. 

ARTISTICALLY, 

the season of 1895 was even a greater success than in 
its financial aspects. The National League enjoyed a 
remarkably close, exciting, and well sustained race — 
the best ever witnessed in a twelve-club league, and 
far better than had ever been deemed possible in so 
clumsy and top-heavy an arrangement as a twelve-club 
organization must necessarily be. 

The four leading minor leagues also enjoyed excel- 
lent championship races. The closest was that of the 
Southern League, which actually ended in a tie between 
Nashville and Atlanta — something exceedingly rare in 
baseball campaigns. 

The various campaigns were so well conducted that 
even the few enemies of the sport could find nothing 
to carp at, and nowhere was the fair fame of baseball 
smirched by the breath of scandal. The playing rules 
also worked so well that no change of any importance 
was deemed necessary, and the rules of 1895 will, with 
a few minor corrections, stand as the rules of this 
season. For all these reasons 1895 may well stand as 
the red-letter year of baseball. 



204 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



m 



PROSPECTUS FOR SEASON 
OF 1896. 



There is no reason to apprehend for 1896 anything 
but a repetition of the great success of last year, as 
the conditions have not changed, either in the minor 
league or major league field. All of the leagues in 
the field last year will again enter the lists, while sev- 
eral new leagues will occupy the field in sections 
which have lain fallow for some years and where there 
is, therefore, good reason to expect a renewal of the 
long dormant public interest. 

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE 

circuit will contain the same twelve cities which have 
constituted the membership since the formation of 
that pretentious organization in 1892. The teams 
have been somewhat strengthened all around and the 
chances are therefore good for a repetition of the ex- 
cellent pennant race of last year. 

THE WESTERN LEAGUE, 

which ranks next in importance, power, and success 
to the National League, will be in even better shape 
than last season and the brilliant financial and artistic 
success of 1895 should be easily surpassed this year. 
The circuit has been strengthened by the expulsion of 
Toledo, which' last year proved a weak spot, and the 
admission of Columbus, O., a populous and baseball lov- 
ing city, under the ownership and management of Thos. 
J. Lof tus, a capable, experienced, and well-to-do baseball 
man of the old school. It was designed also to substitute 
Omaha for Grand Rapids, but investigation revealed 
that the big Nebraska town had been for a time ruined 
through the unpopular management of its Western 
Association Club, and it was therefore deemed advisa- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 205 

ble to give the town a rest for a year and retain Grand 
Rapids with Mr. Ellis as franchise holder. The West- 
ern League was last fall re-organized as a five-year 
copartnership and the prospect is that it will fill out 
its full term successfully, and will meantime continue 
to increase in power until it shall either compel the 
National League to recognize it as a major league, 
and treat with it upon equal footing, or else go it alone. 
One of the probabilities of the not very remote future 
is a combination of all of the minor leagues against 
the arrogant National League, under the lead of the 
Western League. What makes the prospect of the 
Western League particularly good is the fact that it 
is located in a populous and constantly growing 
section. 

THE EASTERN LEAGUE 

is not so fortunate as its big Western fellow-league 
in the matter of large and growing cities, but it never- 
theless has, after a struggle of some years, secured a 
circuit second only to that of the Western League 
and one which gives reasonable assurance of perma- 
nence. In Buffalo, Providence, Toronto, and Rochester 
the Eastern League will always have a powerful nu- 
cleus around which to rally, build and maintain a 
strong organization. The circuit this year will contain 
the same cities as last year and the various clubs will 
also remain in the same experienced hands, the only 
change of note being the purchase of the Toronto 
franchise from John C. Chapman by A. C. Bucken- 
berger. Some heavy drafts for players were made 
upon this league by the National League, but the 
losses have all been made good and the teams will, on 
the whole, be fully up to last year's standard. 

THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE 

finished the last campaign in such bad shape that it 
had to be completely reorganized. Of the clubs in at 



206 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



1 



the death last fall, only Atlanta, Nashville, and New 
Orleans are able to continue membership. Chattanooga 
and Evansville have been dropped. In order to make 
up a proper eight-club circuit, Birmingham, Mont- 
gomery, and Mobile of Alabama ; Little Rock, Ark.; 
and Memphis, Tenn., have been admitted. These are 
all old ball towns, and the prospect, therefore, is that 
the Southern League will again enter the field, under 
better auspices than last season, when the circuit was 
too much scattered. 

THE NEW ENGLAND LEAGUE 

has every prospect of duplicating last season's un- 
precedented success, as the circuit will remain intact, 
the backing unchanged and the teams be at least as 
strong — and perhaps even better balanced than last 
season. The one drawback to the campaign of 1895 
was the preponderance of the Fall River team, which 
had practically a walk-over for the pennant. This con- 
dition is not likely to obtain again, and therefore, 
with a closer and more uncertain race, the prosperity of 
all the clubs should be materially enhanced. In the 
matter of good management this league stands second 
to no other baseball organization. 

THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION 

had the misfortune to lose its most populous city, 
Omaha, through the gross mismanagement of its fran- 
chise-holders, and furthermore to lose Jacksonville and 
the city which won the championship — Lincoln. The 
Lincoln people found pennant-winning too costly for a 
city of Lincoln's size and at the end of the season, with 
the consent of the Association, transferred franchise 
and champion team to Cedar Rapids, la. The places 
of Omaha and Jacksonville were taken by Dubuque 
and Burlington, two rather small towns, which, how- 
ever, make up in enthusiasm and good backing what 
they lack in size. The Western Association will, 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 207 

therefore, start the season with a very fair eight-club 
circuit. 

THE STATE LEAGUES 

which occupied the field last year will all be in the 
arena again except the New York League. The best 
of the lot, the Virginia League, will have the same ex- 
cellent six-club circuit as last year with every prospect 
of duplicating the success then achieved. 

The Pennsylvania League, which finished with four 
clubs, has brought its membership up to eight clubs, 
and will try it again this year under better auspices, 
with better organization and backing, and with the 
novelty of a club located in the major league city of 
Philadelphia. 

The Michigan League will have eight clubs this year 
as against six last season. The Texas League will, 
like last year, have six clubs and bids fair to have 
another good season. 

THE NEWCOMERS 

in the minor league field are the Atlantic Association, 
the Pacific League, the Tri-State League, and the 
Southeastern League. Of these the Atlantic Asso- 
ciation is the most promising, and bids fair to be the 
most successful, partly because it is in the hands of 
expert baseball managers and partly because its circuit 
embraces ball towns of reputation which have been 
permitted to lie fallow for years, and should, there- 
fore, be now ripe once more for the national game. 
The Association will have two Connecticut clubs in 
New Haven and Hartford, three New Jersey clubs in 
Jersey City, Paterson, and Newark, and one Dela- 
ware club in that little commonwealth's chief city, 
Wilmington. It would have been an easy matter to 
add two more towns, but it was deemed safest to start 
with the six excellent cities named. 



208 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

COLLEGE BASE BALL. 

The outlook for a successful season of college base 
ball is excellent. The field of candidates in all of the 
colleges is unusually large and the outlook is that the 
games will be unusually close and interesting. Yale, 
Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, 
Georgetown, and Holy Cross will be very evenly 
matched. The New England College Association 
also bids fair to have four well balanced teams 
in the field. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



209 



THE WESTERN LEAGUE'S 1895 
RECORD. 



The campaign of the Western League, which be- 
gan May 1, and ended September 22, was not exciting 
in its earlier stages, owing to the big lead assumed by 
the Indianapolis team. After July, however, Kansas 
City and St. Paul gradually gained upon the leader, 
and for a month the contest between these three 
teams was spirited. Then Kansas City first let up, 
St. Paul also slackened its pace, and Indianapolis 
finished a rather easy winner, with St. Paul second 
and Kansas City third ; Minneapolis finished a good 
fourth. The second division was led by Detroit, 
which came up from the bottom by a fine spurt in 
the last month of the campaign. Milwaukee had to 
be content with sixth place after a sharp brush 
with Detroit. Toledo and Grand Rapids brought up 
the rear, where, indeed, they had lingered for the best 
part of the season. The official record for the season 
was as follows : 



Indianapolis,... 

St. Paul, 

Kansas City, ... 
Minneapolis,... 

Detroit, 

Milwaukee,... , 

Toledo, 

Grand Rapids,. 
Lost, 

















02 




.s 




>. 


CO 








'd 




a 


1—3 




O 


-M 


1 




P4 










s 


2 


1 


1 

13 


T3 

14 


78 




9 


10 


8 


11 


13 


8 




8 


10 


9 


11 


14 


14 


74 


8 


10 




10 


11 


11 


12 


11 


73 


8 


8 


8 




8 


11 


10 


11 


64 


7 


9 


7 


10 




7 


8 


11 


69 


4 


7 


7 


7 


10 




9 


13 


67 


4 


4 


6 


8 


10 


9 




12 


62 


4 


3 


7 


6 


7 


5 


6 




38 


43 


e50 


62 


59 


m 


67 


72 


86 





.646 

.697 
.684 
.620 
.472 
.460 
.419 
.306 



210 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GTHDE. 



Summary. 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Indianapolis, . . 78 43 .645 

St. Paul, 74 50 .597 

Kansas City, .. 73 52 .584 

Minneapolis, .... 64 59 . 520 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Detroit, 59 66 .472 

Milwaukee,.... 57 67 .460 

Toledo, 52 72 .419 

Grand Rapids, .38 86 . 306 



WESTERN LEAGUE AVERAGES FOR 1895. 



The official averages of the clubs and players of the 
Western League for 1895, as furnished by president 
Ban Johnson, follows : Outfielder Frank, of Minneap- 
olis was the leading batter of the League. The batting- 
standard was high, 11 men standing .400 or over and 
69 being .300 or over. The batting was favored by 
the rather small parks, but the fielding was exceed- 
ingly good, considering the roughness of most of 
the Western League grounds. The figures : 

Club Batting. 

Rank. Games. AB. R. 

1 Indianapolis, 121 4639 1201 

2 Minneapolis, 123 4863 1282 

3 Kansas City, 125 4633 1071 

4 Grand Rapids,.... 124 4708 1066 

5 St. Paul, 124 4711 1185 

6 Detroit, 125 4706 993 

7 Toledo,... 124 4480 831 

8 Milwaukee, 124 4722 901 

Club Fielding. 

Rank. Games. PO. A. 

1 Detroit, 125 3254 1668 

2 Kansas City, 125 3260 1539 

3 Toledo, 124 3214 1519 

4 St. Paul, 124 3190 1591 

5 Indianapolis, 121 3195 1513 

6 Minneapolis, 123 3218 1658 

7 Milwaukee, 124 3333 1540 

8 Grand Rapids,.... 124 3221 1690 



BH. 


ER. 


Ave. 


1641 


670 


.354 


1702 


670 


.350 


1565 


553 


.338 


1569 


557 


.333 


1542 


477 


.327 


1503 


527 


.319 


1366 


371 


.305 


1415 


438 


.300 


E. 


T'lch's. 


Ave. 


321 


5243 


.939 


342 


5141 


.933 


339 


6072 


.933 


352 


5133 


.931 


372 


5080 


.927 


394 


5270 


.925 


408 


5281 


.923 


456 


5367 


.916 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 211 



Individual Batting Averages. 

Rank. Games. AB. R. BH. Ave. 

1 Frank, Minneapolis, 37 164 47 77 .472 

2 Werden, Minneapolis, 123 563 179 241 .428 

3 Dungan, Detroit, 125 543 149 230 .424 

. (McCarthy, Indianapolis,... 121 522 146 219 .420 

^ i Motz, Indianapolis, 117 476 1^2 200 .420 

6 Hogriever, Indianapolis,..,. 46 204 56 85 .417 

7 Carroll, G. R., K. C, 122 522 154 216 .414 

8 Delehanty, Detroit, 16 66 21 27 .409 

9 Wright, Grand Rapids, 124 549 172 224 .408 

10 George, G. R., St. r., 124 595 169 240 .403 

11 Lally, Minneapolis, 123 590 205 236 .400 

12 Roat, Indianapolis, 120 523 205 236 .409 

13 Stratton, St. Paul, 45 210 56 80 .381 

14 Nie, Grand Rapids, 16 61 11 23 .377 

15 Cassidy, Grand Rapids,.... 120 531 113 199 .375 

16 Bergen, Kansas City, 113 505 118 188 .372 

17 Hulen, Minneapolis, 123 528 187 195 .369 

18 Pickett, St. Paul 120 513 132 189 .368 

19 Hines, Kansas City, 91 381 103 139 .365 

20 Newell, Indianapolis, 121 528 140 190 .360 

( Manning, Kansas City, 121 521 145 187 .359 

21 ^Connaugh ton, Kansas City,. 115 493 118 177 .359 
^ Campau, Detroit, 118 476 115 171 .359 

24 Irwin, St. Paul, 113 500 154 179 .358 

25 Hartman, Toledo, Mil., 113 451 115 161 .357 

26 Klusman, Kansas City, 113 467 112 165 .353 

27 Kuehne, Minneapolis, 123 534 127 178 .352 

28 Burns, Minneapolis, St. Paul, 118 534 121 190 .350 

29 Nicholson, Detroit, 81 356 103 124 .348 

30 Strauss, Minneapolis, 120 555 144 192 .346 

31 Gillen, Detroit, 125 471 95 162 .344 

( Twitchell, Milwaukee, 124 522 143 179 .343 

32 \ Comiskey, St. Paul, 17 67 15 23 .343 

(McFarland, Indianapolis... 120 487 127 167 .843 

' Niland, Toledo, G. R., 116 446 81 152 .341 

Weaver, Milwaukee, 124 566 113 193 .341 

Roach, Toledo, 107 387 86 132 .341 

t Nicol, Ind., Mil., 85 358 69 122 .341 

OQ j Nicholl, Kansas City, 102 423 93 143 .338 

"^^ \ Kling, Kansas City, 62 234 41 79 .338 

41 Camp, St. Paul, 120 498 145 168 . 337 

42 Cavelle, Toledo, 10 39 12 13 .333 

.o j Carney, Toledo, 106 444 56 147 .331 

^"^ ] Earle, Grand Rapids, 33 133 34 44 .331 

45 Sharp, Milwaukee, 118 515 115 170 .330 



35^ 



212 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Rank. 

.^ j Werrick, Minneapolis, 

^^ I Connor, Toledo, 

48 Glenalvin, Ind., G. R., 

.q j Strouthers, Detroit,. . . . 

I Hogan, Indianapolis, 

61 O'Kourke, St. Paul, 

52 Eraser, Minneapolis, 

( Mullane, St. Paul, 

63 } Hernon, Kansas City, 

( Cross, Indianapolis, 

66 Campbell, Grand Rapids,... 

67 Wilson, Minneapolis, 

58 Marr, St. Paul, 

59 Canavan, Indianapolis, 

60 Truby, Grand Rapids, 

PI ( Newman, Detroit,... 

^ I Stafford, Grand Rapids,. . . . 

no i Shields, Grand Rapids, 

^"^ } M'Cauley, M., G. R., D.,... . 

i Gilks, Toledo, 

^^ I Donohue, Grand Rapids,... . 
67 Klopf , Mil. , Toledo, 

( Taylor, Milwaukee, 

^^ ] Weddige, Toledo, 

70 Twineham, Detroit, 

71 Collopy, Grand Rapids, 

72 Kilroy, Grand Rapids, 

73 Gettinger, Indianapolis, 

Healy, Minneapolis, 

* Johnson, Detroit, 

* Hatfield, Kansas City, 

Rupert, Kansas City, 

Long, Milwaukee, 

Raymond, Detroit, 

Wittrock, Indianapolis, 

^. ( Freeman, Detroit, 

^^ I Wheelock, Grand Rapids,. . 

83 Kraus, St. Paul, 

( Daniels, Kansas City, 

84 } Moran, G. R., Mil., 

I Boyle, St. Paul, 

87 Hastings, Kansas City, 

88 Woods, Indianapolis, 

89 Phillips, Indianapolis, 

90 Zahner, G. R, K. C, 

91 Whitehill, Detroit 

92 Goar, Toledo, 



74 



77^ 



CtUXCS 

112 


447 


109 


147 


.329 


124 


492 


128 


162 


.329 


88 


352 


76 


115 


.327 


77 


309 


63 


100 


.324 


110 


491 


137 


159 


.324 


119 


533 


146 


172 


.323 


71 


268 


57 


86 


.321 


96 


356 


75 


114 


.320 


124 


487 


116 


156 


.320 


44 


153 


23 


49 


.320 


60 


251 


39 


80 


.319 


120 


488 


88 


156 


.318 


58 


237 


62 


75 


.316 


105 


425 


135 


134 


.315 


36 


141 


42 


44 


.312 


117 


528 


133 


162 


.307 


68 


264 


47 


81 


.307 


26 


108 


24 


33 


.306 


100 


389 


84 


119 


.306 


120 


560 


113 


169 


.302 


24 


86 


19 


26 


.302 


117 


608 


110 


153 


.301 


124 


514 


74 


154 


.300 


123 


540 


87 


162 


.300 


103 


403 


81 


120 


.298 


123 


512 


98 


152 


.297 


15 


51 


10 


15 


.294 


37 


150 


30 


44 


.293 


38 


144 


23 


42 


.292 


20 


72 


13 


21 


.292 


117 


455 


97 


133 


.292 


28 


117 


20 


34 


.290 


89 


369 


67 


107 


.290 


121 


521 


85 


151 


.290 


10 


31 


4 


9 


.290 


10 


42 


10 


12 


.286 


122 


500 


109 


143 


.286 


54 


201 


60 


57 


.284 


41 


152 


24 


43 


.283 


12 


63 


9 


16 


.283 


84 


339 


60 


96 


.283 


46 


146 


33 


41 


.281 


28 


107 


27 


30 


.280 


21 


79 


13 


22 


.278 


28 


102 


21 


28 


.274 


36 


121 


12 


33 


.273 


62 


218 


36 


69 


.271 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



213 



Rank. Games. AB. R. BH. 

93 Pepper, St. Paul, 47 166 31 42 

94 Blackburn, Ind., Minn.,... 25 91 19 24 

Q. ( Baker, Milwaukee, 48 175 30 46 

^^ I Gallagher, Toledo,*. 114 456 62 120 

97 Berger, St. Paul 24 92 17 24 

98 Rettger, Milwaukee, 46 162 27 42 

r,a { Smith, St. Paul, 57 213 61 55 

'^^ \ Boyd, Detroit, 23 93 19 24 

.^. ( Stafford, Milwaukee, 27 109 16 28 

^"^ I Lohbeck, Detroit, 27 109 8 28 

. ^o j Jones, St. Paul, 30 92 15 23 

^^"^jOutcalt, Toledo,... 33 132 18 33 

-.^^ Fear, Grand Rapids, 18 65 16 16 

^"^ ) Fisher, Indianapolis, 52 191 30 47 

107 Dake, Minneapolis, 11 38 6 9 

108 Stephens, Milwaukee, 45 171 19 40 

109 Niles, Milwaukee, 21 86 16 20 

1 10 Pears, Detroit, 65 241 30 55 

111 Fanning, Minneapolis,.... 34 94 16 20 

112 Jones, Grand Rapids 62 166 29 35 

113 Bolan, Milwaukee,...' 80 296 32 62 

1 14 Hughey , Toledo, 41 133 22 27 

iirjNops, Toledo 46 154 16 31 

^^^ ] Gayle, Detroit, 44 174 22 35 

117 Petty, Toledo, G.R., 28 85 9 17 

118 McCarthy, Toledo, 10 31 1 6 

119 Van Dyke, St. Paul, 13 47 9 8 

120 Johnston, St. Paul, 41 132 15 21 

121 Scheibeck, Det., ToL, 15 56 4 7 

122 Gifford, Toledo, 14 50 4 6 

123 Dammann,Tol.,Ind., 20 63 6 7 

Individual Fielding Averages, 
catchers. 

Rank. Games. PO. A. E. PB. TO. 

1 Lohbeck, Detroit,.. 21 77 20 3 11 100 

2 Twineham, Det.,... 84 339 87 16 30 441 

3 Roach, Toledo, 102 448 98 22 32 568 

. j Boyle, St. Paul,.. . . 84 357 89 20 36 466 

^) Strauss, Minn...... 17 77 13 4 10 94 

6 Wilson, Minn., 105 448 120 26 42 594 

7 Moran, G. R.,Mil., 12 60 14 3 2 67 

8 Bergen, Kan. City, 109 466 111 28 39 605 

9 McFarland, Ind.,... 118 458 140 30 32 628 

10 Weaver, Mil., .... 34 168 27 10 6 205 

11 Kraus, St. Paul,. . . 18 80 13 6 1 99 

12 Bolan, Milwaukee, 80 277 83 24 33 384 



Ave. 
.269 
-264 
.263 
.263 
.261 
.259 
.268 
.268 
.257 
.257 
.250 
.250 
.246 
.246 
.237 
.234 
.233 
.228 
.213 
.211 
.209 
.203 
.201 
.201 
.200 
.194 
.170 
.169 
.125 
.120 
.111 



Ave. 
.970 
.966 
.961 
.657 
.967 
.956 
.955 
.954 
.962 
.951 
.939 
.938 



214 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Rank. Games. PO A. E. 

13 Berger, St. Paul,... 24 92 27 8 

14 Zahner,G.R.,K.C., 28 97 29 9 

15 Earle, G. R., 28 111 24 10 

16 Outcalt, Toledo,. . . 26 131 29 13 

17 Boyd, Detroit, 13 67 9 6 

18 Campbell, G.R.... 39 118 50 16 

19 Fear, G. R., 15 68 10 10 

20 Nie, Grand Rapids, 15 44 17 9 

FIRST BASEMEN. 

Rank. Games. PO. A. 

( Klusman, K. C, 109 1059 3 

1 \ Carney, Toledo, 106 1073 20 

( Camp, St. Paul, 33 318 11 

4 Werden, Minn., 123 1177 88 

5 Gilks, Toledo, 13 146 1 

' "'keera'R.lier:} ^^ ^' '' 

7 Motz, Indianapolis,... 116 1133 58 

8 Mullane, St. Paul,.... 60 555 28 

9 Cassidy, G. R., 101 947 66 

. r. { Strouthers, Det. ,....; 77 705 37 

^^ I Comiskey, St. Paul,.. 17 134 5 

12 Stafford, Mil., 27 245 13 

13 Twitchell , Mil. , 26 237 9 

14 Twineham, Det...... 15 139 4 

15 Kling, Kan. City,.... 13 133 4 

16 Carroll, G. R., K. C, 10 96 5 

SECOND BASEMEN. 

1 Pears, Detroit, 10 25 16 

2 Manning, Kan. City,. 121 298 344 

j Pickett, St. Paul, 112 342 308 

"^ I Connor, Toledo, 124 321 428 

5 Glenalvin, Ind., G.R. 84 296 271 

6 Gillen, Detroit, 10 23 31 

7 Nicholson, Detroit,... 81 254 233 

8 Canavan, Ind., 74 184 212 

9 Niland, Tol., G. R.,.. 33 99 121 

10 Truby, G.R., 35 118 107 

-,-, j Sharp, Milwaukee,.. 118 317 321 

^ ^ ] Delehanty , Det. , . . . . 16 56 47 

13 Werrick,Minn., 112 322 357 

THIRD BASEMEN. 

1 Hatfield, K. C, 117 138 249 

2 Niles, Milwaukee,.... 20 36 33 

3 Kuehne, Minn., 120 177 311 



PB. 


TC. 


Ave. 


5 


127 


.937 


11 


135 


.933 


7 


145 


.931 


18 


173 


.925 


7 


72 ■ 


.917 


15 


184 


.913 


3 


88 


.886 


5 


70 


.871 


E. 


TC. 


Ave. 


20 


1112 


.982 


20 


1113 


.982 


6 


335 


.982 


24 


1289 


.981 


3 


150 


.980 


21 


989 


.979 


28 


1219 


.977 


15 


598 


.975 


27 


1040 


.974 


21 


763 


.972 


4 


143 


.972 


9 


267 


.966 


10 


256 


.961 


6 


149 


.960 


7 


144 


.951 


9 


110 


.918 


2 


43 


.953 


36 


678 


.947 


37 


687 


.946 


42 


791 


.946 


35 


602 


.942 


4 


58 


.931 


37 


524 


.929 


31 


427 


.927 


18 


238 


.924 


21 


246 


.915 


62 


700 


.911 


9 


112 


.911 


70 


749 


.907 


41 


428 


.904 


8 


77 


.896 


59 


547 


.892 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE, 



215 



Rank. Games. PO. 

4 Hartman,Tol., Mil.,. 113 153 

5 Collopy, G.R., 122 175 

6 O'Rourke, St. Paul,.. 118 149 

7 Klopf, MiL.Tol., 97 135 

8 Raymond, Det., 115 168 

9 Weddige,Tol., 10 15 

10 Newelljnd., 51 42 

11 Roat,Ind., 72 110 

^HORT STOPS. 

1 Scheibeck,Det.,Tol., 13 20 

2 Niland, Tol., G. R.,... 64 110 

3 Taylor, Mil., 124 241 

. ( Irwin, St. Paul, 112 222 

*]Hines,K. C, 10 21 

6 Hulen,Minn., 122 214 

7 Roat, Ind 48 101 

8 Connaugliton,K. C.,.. 115 215 

9 Wheelock, G.R., 122 196 

in (Newell, Ind., 70 97 

^"JGillen, Det., 115 173 

12 Gallagher, Tol., 44 67 

13 Camp, St. Paul, 10 15 

FIELDERS. 

1 Niland, Tol., G. R.,.. 19 29 

2 Stratton, St. Paul,... 43 77 

3 Cassidy, G. R., 15 22 

4 Weaver, Mil., 90 244 

5 Canavan, Ind., 31 58 

r. { McCarthy, Ind., 120 296 

^ } Gettinger , Ind. , 36 68 

Q ( Gilks, Toledo, 105 191 

^ I Nicol, Ind. , Mil. , 81 200 

10 Hogriever, Ind., 44 61 

11 Nicholl,K. C, 102 278 

lo i Bums, Minn., St. P., 118 213 

^^ ) Camp, St. Paul, 74 148 

14 Hogan, Ind., 110 270 

.. (Shields, G.R., 26 55 

^^ ] Gifford, Toledo, 14 22 

17 Newman, Detroit, ... 117 270 

18 Weddige, Toledo,.... 112 241 

19 Campau, Detroit,.... 108 184 
( George, G. R., St. P., 124 269 

20 } Hines, Kan. City, .... 75 131 
^ Van Dyke, St. P.,... 13 28 



A. 


E. 


TO. 


Ave. 


181 


41 


375 


.891 


295 


60 


530 


.887 


183 


51 


383 


.867 


204 


53 


392 


.865 


253 


68 


489 


.861 


20 


6 


41 


.854 


111 


28 


181 


.845 


121 


49 


280 


.825 


36 


4 


60 


.933 


220 


43 


373 


.885 


429 


89 


759 


.883 


401 


83 


706 


.882 


24 


6 


51 


.882 


373 


82 


669 


.877 


175 


39 


315 


.876 


381 


86 


682 


.874 


456 


95 


747 


.873 


246 


58 


401 


.855 


400 


97 


670 


.855 


131 


41 


239 


.828 


26 


11 


52 


.788 


6 


1 


36 


.972 


10 


3 


90 


.967 


1 


1 


24 


.958 


20 


16 


280 


.943 


6 


4 


68 


.941 


14 


20 


330 


.939 


9 


5 


82 


.939 


14 


14 


219 


.936 


22 


15 


237 


.936 


7 


5 


73 


.932 


14 


22 


314 


.930 


17 


18 


248 


.927 


18 


13 


179 


.927 


12 


23 


305 


.925 


5 


5 


65 


.923 


2 


2 


26 


.923 


15 


25 


310 


.919 


16 


23 


280 


.918 


29 


20 


233 


.914 


11 


27 


307 


.912 


15 


14 


160 


.912 


3 


3 


34 


.912 



216 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Rank. Game 

23 Hernon, Kan. City,. . 124 

o. j Lally, Minn., 123 

^^ ] Kraus, St. Paul, 17 

26 Long, Milwaukee,... 89 

27 Twitchell, Mil., 84 

28 Strauss, Minn., 97 

OQ j Cavelle, Toledo, 10 

^^ ] Freeman, Detroit,. . . 10 

QT \ Marr, St. Paul, 65 

"^M Wright, G. R., 124 

33 Rupert, Kan. City,. . . 27 

34 Gallagher, Toledo,. . . 68 
op- ( Dungan, Detroit,. . . . 125 
^^) Woods, Ind., 21 

37 Klopf, Milwaukee,. . . 19 

38 Stafford, G. R., 23 

39 Smith, St. Paul, 67 

40 Carroll, G.R.,K.C.,.. 108 

41 Baker, Milwaukee,... 10 

42 King, Kansas City, . . 14 

43 Fraser, Minn. , 23 

44 Campbell, G. R. 21 

45 Frank, Minn., 37 

46 Goar. Toledo, 26 



PO. 


A. 


E. 


TC. 


Ave. 


254 


20 


27 


301 


.910 


236 


15 


25 


276 


.909 


36 


4 


4 


44 


.909 


224 


12 


24 


260 


.908 


165 


30 


19 


204 


.907 


203 


26 


25 


254 


.902 


15 


3 


2 


20 


.900 


16 


2 


2 


20 


.900 


85 


13 


12 


110 


.891 


301 


34 


41 


376 


.891 


40 


6 


6 


52 


.885 


80 


18 


13 


111 


.883 


230 


32 


35 


297 


.882 


38 


7 


6 


51 


.882 


31 


4 


5 


40 


.875 


29 


4 


5 


38 


.868 


105 


10 


18 


133 


.865 


173 


14 


31 


218 


.858 


21 


1 


4 


26 


.846 


13 


2 


3 


18 


.833 


42 


7 


10 


69 


.830 


37 


6 


10 


63 


.811 


59 


8 


16 


83 


.807 


25 


6 


9 


40 


.775 



Pitchers' Averages. 



1 Mullane, 

2 Fisher, 

3 Hastings, 

4 Jones, 

5 Phillips, 

6 Dammann, 

7 Rettger, 

8 Kling, 

9 Cross, 

10 Goar, 

, -. ( Fraser, 

I Johnston, 





ii 


& 




-J 


PI 




t! 


•^ 0) 


a> «» 


CQ 


fl a> 


-"^ 0) 


<» S)<» 


o 


pj 




a-S 


u a 


.t« a 


Sfcg 




ta o 


O P5 


4J a 


c^ O 


+a o 


P 




§ ft 




0) ft 

ft 
go 


fl O ft 

«3^ 




30 


894 


175 


260 


69 


290 


.230 


52 


1715 


248 


481 


128 


280 


.246 


44 


1391 


263 


398 


134 


286 


.304 


30 


847 


194 


303 


93 


357 


.310 


18 


693 


90 


172 


56 


290 


.311 


18 


613 


128 


166 


59 


323 


.327 


42 


1468 


284 


480 


139 


327 


.330 


34 


1120 


219 


342 


113 


305 


.332 


44 


1504 


312 


472 


148 


313 


.336 


32 


1118 


210 


345 


108 


308 


.337 


48 


1466 


366 


474 


164 


323 


.341 


41 


1315 


303 


414 


140 


314 


.341 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 217 

Pitchers' Averages — Continued. 

^ 5g 'g«5 -^^ SS'^SS'SaS 

fe- *^p, §« -2 4^ Sp, aop4««SS« 

.Q® tnS wg -^g S l^g ^^S 

|i a>. ga ia g>> feS>>^§>> 

g^ H-^ (§<=> W^ (S-^ S'^'^ ^^-^ 

13 Hughey, 39 1325 258 417 134 314 .341 

14 Nops, 38 1354 288 431 132 318 .347 

15 Whitehill, .... 35 1146 236 367 123 320 .351 

16 Baker, 38 1357 289 422 134 310 .352 

17 Jones, 45 1426 373 458 160 321 .355 

18 Fanning, 34 934 263 328 131 351 ,358 

19 Pepper, 42 1397 313 466 156 334 .371 

20 Stephens, 45 1644 330 525 168 319 .373 

21 Daniels, 39 1439 275 456 149 316 .382 

22 Pears, 38 1230 273 428 152 347 .400 

23 Healy, 34 1176 289 414 144 332 .423 

24 Kilroy, 14 419 148 158 62 377 .442 

25 Gayle, 44 1518 351 524 197 345 .447 

26 Stafford, 41 1359 382 508 197 373 .480 

Q7( Petty, 28 878 243 297 137 338 .489 

^'] Blackburn,.... 19 599 166 217 93 362 .489 

29 Johnson, 18 620 160 230 92 370 .511 

30 Donohue, 18 598 180 221 97 369 .538 



218 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



National League Record 

FOR 1895. 



The 1895 campaign of the National League, which 
began April 18, and ended September 30, was one of 
the best, in all respects, in the history of that organi- 
zation. From start to finish six teams managed to 
keep over the .500 mark in rank — a remarkable feat 
in a twelve-club race. The Baltimore team, after 
many ups and downs, won the pennant for the second 
time, after a bruising finish with Cleveland, which fin- 
ished a very close second, and, but for a bad start, 
would probably have won first place. Philadelphia, 
despite its great batting strength, finished only a poor 
third ; Chicago, to the surprise of its rivals, came in 
fourth, thanks to its heavy batting qualities. Brook- 
lyn and Boston tied for fifth place. Pittsburg, which 
for a long time led in the race, finished a poor 
seventh. Cincinnati managed to reach eighth place, 
and thus to beat out the ninth club, New York, which 
proved the great disappointment of the season. The 
Washington, St. Louis, and Louisville teams, which 
were never in the race as championship possibilities, 
finished at the tail in the order named. The full 
record is as follows : — 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



219 



Baltimore, . . . 

Boston, 

Brooklyn, . . . 

Chicago, 

Cleveland, . . . 
Cincinnati,. . . 
Louisville, . . . 
New York, . . . 
Philadelphia,. 
Pittsburg,.. . . 

St. Louis, 

Washington, . 



Lost, 



8 



43 60 60 58 46 64 96,65 53 61 92 85 783 



87 .669 
71 .542 



71 
72 
84 
66 
35 
66 
78 
71 
39 
43 



.542 
.554 
.646 
.508 
.267 
.504 
.595 
.538 
.298 
.336 



Won. 

Baltimore, 87 

Cleveland, 84 

Philadelphia, . . 78 

Chicago, 72 

Brooklyn, 71 

Boston, 71 



Summary 

Lost. Pet. 

43 .669 

46 .646 

53 .595 

58 .554 

60 .542 

60 .542 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Pittsburg, 71 61 .538 

Cincinnati, 66 64 .508 

New York, 66 65 .504 

Washington,... 43 85 .336 

St. Louis, 39 96 .298 

Louisville, ....35 96 .267 



At the close of the championship season the Balti- 
more and Cleveland teams arranged a series of seven 
games for the Temple Cup and the gate receipts, of 
which 60 per cent, went to the winner of the series 
and 40 per cent, to the loser, less expenses. The first 
three games were played in Cleveland, October 2, 3, 5, 
the Cleveland team winning all by scores of 5 to 4, 7 
to 2, and 7 to 1. The fourth game, played at Balti- 
more was won by Baltimore by 5 to 0. The fifth game 
also played at Baltimore was won by Cleveland by 5 
to 2. Cleveland having won the majority of the seven 
games the remaining two games scheduled were aban- 
doned. Baltimore, thus, for the second time lost the 
Temple Cup series after having won the league 



220 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



championship. The series yielded each Cleveland 
player a little over $500, while each Baltimore player 
netted $316. 



NATIONAL LEAGUE AVERAGES FOR 1895. 



The official batting and fielding averages for 1895 
of the clubs and players of the National League, as 
compiled by president N. E. Young, are appended. 
Jesse Burkett of Cleveland had the honor of leading 

all the batsmen, while Hamilton of Philadelphia led 
the base runners. 

Club Batting. 

Rank. AB. RS. BH. RE. Ave. 

1 Philadelphia,.... 4926 1021 1604 628 .326 

2 Baltimore, 4661 973 1473 478 .317 

3 Cleveland, 4679 926 1396 394 .298 

4 New York, 4481 872 1330 443 .296 

6 Chicago, 4699 836 1368 366 .296 

6 Cincinnati, 4686 884 1376 648 .294 

7 Boston, 4684 881 1330 386 .284 

8 Brooklyn, 4682 873 1331 394 .284 

9 Pittsburg, 4614 801 1323 371 .280 

10 Washington,.... 4466 797 1240 409 .278 

11 Louisville, 4669 683 1286 342 .276 

12 St. Louis, 4812 760 1324 368 .276 

Club Fielding. 

Rank. PO. A. E. T'lch's. Ave. 

1 Baltimore, 3348 1476 288 6112 .994 

2 Brooklyn, 3467 1676 314 6446 .942 

3 Cleveland, 3493 1664 349 6606 .937 

4 Philadelphia,.... 3631 1642 361 6634 .936 
6 Boston, 3614 1643 371 6628 .933 

6 Cincinnati 3373 1606 366 6334 .933 

7 Pittsburg, 3637 1694 396 6627 .930 

8 St. Louis, 3432 1641 401 6347 .925 

9 Chicago, 3278 1620 407 6306 .923 

10 New York, 3384 1699 439 6622 .921 

11 Louisville, 3298 1690 486 6373 .910 

12 Washington, ... 3273 1611 486 6369 .910 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 821 



Individual Batting Averages. 

Games. AB. BH. 

Burkett, Cleveland, 132 655 235 

Delehanty, Philadelphia,... 116 481 192 

Keeler, Baltimore, 131 560 221 

Thompson, Philadelphia,. . . 118 533 210 

Hamilton, Philadelphia,.... 121 517 203 

Clements, Philadelphia, 84 324 126 

Turner, Philadelphia, 48 209 81 

Lange, Chicago, 122 479 186 

Jennings, Baltimore, 131 528 204 

Stenzel, Pittsburg, 131 520 200 

Holmes, Louisville, 39 157 60 

McGraw, Baltimore, 93 385 144 

Kelley, Baltimore, 131 510 189 

Brodie, Baltimore, 130 528 193 

Everett, Chicago, 133 553 197 

Tiernau, New York, 119 474 168 

Clarke, Louisville, 131 556 197 

Duffy, Boston, 131 540 190 

Gumbert, Brooklyn........ 26 93 32 

McKean, Cleveland 132 573 197 

Sullivan, Philadelphia, 91 373 127 

Cooley, St. Louis, 132 570 194 

Parrott, Cincinnati, 47 200 68 

Truby, Chicago, 33 118 40 

Bannon, Boston, 121 487 165 

Van Haltren, New York, ... 131 517 175 

Anson, Chicago, 122 476 161 

Zimmer, Cleveland, 83 318 107 

Gradv, Philadelphia, 33 119 40 

McCreary, Louisville, 28 110 37 

Griffin, Brooklyn, 132 522 175 

McGuire, Washington, 133 539 178 

G. Davis, New York, 110 433 143 

Miller, Cincinnati, 132 532 175 

0. Tebeau, Cleveland, 66 277 91 

Cartwright, Washington,... 121 473 155 

Connor, St. Louis, 104 402 131 

Dowd, St. Louis, 127 505 164 

Stocksdale, Wash., Boston, 25 86 28 

Hawley, Pittsburg, 53 185 60 

Sheehan, St. Louis, 49 170 55 

Beckley, Pittsburg, 131 536 174 

Selbach, Washington 129 518 168 

G. Tebeau, Cleveland, 87 325 105 

Gleason, Baltimore, 107 408 132 

Ryan, Chicago, 108 443 143 



Pet. 


SH. 


SB. 


.423 


7 


47 


.399 


6 


46 


.394 


21 


57 


.394 


2 


24 


.393 


9 


95 


.389 


3 


14 


.388 


3 


14 


.388 


9 


79 


.386 


28 


60 


.384 


6 


53 


.382 


3 


12 


.374 


6 


53 


.370 


12 


59 


.365 


9 


36 


.353 


9 


51 


.354 


5 


36 


.354 


3 


36 


.352 


16 


42 


.344 








.344 


11 


16 


.340 


10 


15 


.340 


2 


31 


.340 


6 


10 


.339 


3 


7 


.339 


12 


33 


.338 


6 


31 


.338 


13 


16 


.336 


7 


12 


.336 


3 


5 


.336 


2 


2 


.335 


9 


27 


.330 


5 


20 


.330 


3 


45 


.329 


7 


35 


.329 


4 


11 


.327 


4 


53 


.326 


2 


8 


.325 


4 


35 


.325 


1 


2 


.324 


3 


1 


.324 


4 


5 


.324 


15 


19 


.324 


6 


30 


.323 


8 


12 


.323 


6 


26 


.322 


4 


15 



222 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Games. 

Kennedy, Brooklyn, 36 

La Chance, Brooklyn, 128 

Griffith, Chicago, 39 

Long, Boston, 124 

Donovan, Pittsburg, 126 

Ewing, Cincinnati, 103 

Doyle, New York, 78 

Hallman, Philadelphia, .... 124 

McGann, Louisville, 17 

Childs, Cleveland,.. . 120 

Foreman, Cincinnati, 25 

Sugden, Pittsburg, 45 

Latham, Cincinnati, 110 

Cunningham, Louisville, 31 

Quinn, St. Louis, 134 

Joyce, Washington, 128 

Vaughn, Cincinnati, 38 

Foutz, Brooklyn, 28 

McMahon, Baltimore, 15 

Gray, Cincinnati, 47 

Halliday, Cincinnati, 31 

Lowe, Boston, 99 

Anderson, Washington, 24 

Wilmot, Chicago, 108 

Harrington, Boston, 18 

Clarke, Baltimore, « . . 60 

Smith, Cincinnati, 127 

Nash, Boston, , 133 

Smith, Pittsburg, 124 

Anderson, Brooklyn, 103 

Taylor, Philadelphia, 40 

Ryan, Boston, 49 

McPhee, Cincinnati, 114 

O'Connor, Cleveland, 88 

Stafford, New York, 123 

Lucid, Brook, and Phila.,... 25 

Glasscock, Was. and Lou.,. 43 

Preston, Louisville, 49 

McCarthy, Boston, 116 

McAleer, Cleveland, 132 

Crooks, Washington, 118 

Decker, Chicago, 70 

Lyons, St. Louis, 33 

Miller, St. Louis, 123 

Hemming, Baltimore, 34 

Meekin, New York, 27 

Schriver, New York, 24 



AB. 


BH. 


Pet. 


SH. 


SB. 


134 


43 


.321 


1 


2 


544 


174 


.320 


3 


44 


144 


46 


.319 


2 


3 


540 


172 


.319 


21 


36 


522 


165 


.316 


6 


36 


439 


139 


.316 


2 


34 


316 


100 


.316 





33 


539 


170 


.315 


15 


16 


67 


21 


.315 


1 


7 


461 


144 


.312 


8 


26 


93 


29 


.312 


1 





155 


48 


.310 


6 


5 


458 


142 


.310 


7 


45 


100 


31 


.310 





1 


550 


170 


.309 


16 


25 


476 


147 


.308 


7 


34 


334 


102 


.305 


4 


15 


115 


35 


.304 


2 


3 


53 


16 


.302 


1 


1 


179 


54 


.301 


1 


2 


126 


38 


.301 


1 


6 


415 


125 


.301 


16 


21 


93 


28 


.301 


1 





464 


139 


.299 


10 


31 


67 


20 


.299 


2 


3 


229 


68 


.297 


4 


3 


504 


150 


.297 


3 


15 


514 


152 


.296 


11 


21 


492 


146 


.296 


3 


35 


425 


126 


.296 


1 


25 


152 


45 


.296 


1 


4 


193 


57 


.295 


8 


2 


434 


129 


.295 


7 


28 


338 


99 


.293 


1 


37 


467 


137 


.293 


1 


37 


82 


24 


.293 


3 


2 


178 


52 


.292 


4 


5 


195 


57 


.292 


1 


11 


454 


13 


.291 


15 


24 


531 


154 


,291 


8 


39 


408 


119 


.291 


16 


35 


299 


87 


.291 


3 


9 


131 


38 


.290 


1 


4 


500 


145 


.290 


1 


18 


117 


34 


.290 


1 





93 


27 


.290 





1 


93 


27 


.299 


1 


5 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 223 



Games. 

T. Daly, Brooklyn, 122 

Wright, Louisville, 59 

Brouthers, Bal. and Lou.,... 29 

Peitz, St. Louis, 90 

Grim, Brooklyn, 90 

Boyd, Washington, 46 

Stein, Brooklyn, 28 

Farrell, New York, 89 

Cuppy, Cleveland, 40 

Reitz, Baltimore, 63 

Gettinger, Louisville, 60 

Carsey, Philadelphia, 39 

Blake, Cleveland, 83 

Sweeney, Louisville, 21 

Hogriever, Cincinnati, 67 

Shindle, Brooklyn, 118 

Collins, Bal. and Lou., 104 

Corcoran, Brooklyn, 128 

Cross, Philadelphia, 124 

Tenny, Boston, 42 

Greminger, Cleveland, 19 

Abbey, Washington, 133 

Hoy, Cincinnati, 107 

Dahlen, Chicago, 131 

Murphy, Cincinnati, 22 

Dwyer, Cincinnati, 32 

Luby, Louisville, 15 

Carey, Baltimore, 123 

Donohue, Chicago, 62 

McGarr, Cleveland, 112 

Burke, New York and Cin. , 95 

Riley, Philadelphia, 44 

Bannon, New York, 37 

Ganzel, Boston, 74 

RobiDson, Baltimore, 74 

Shoch, Brooklyn, 58 

Hassamer, Was. and Lou.,. 109 

O'Brien, Louisville, 128 

Tredway, Brooklyn, 85 

W. Clarke, New York, 22 

Clingman, Pittsburg, 108 

Ely, St. Louis, 118 

Warner, Louisville, 63 

Stuart, Pittsburg, 19 

Spies, Cin. and Lou. , . ., 83 

Dolan, Boston, 23 

Merritt, Cin. and Pitts.,.. . . 87 



AB. 


BH. 


Pet. 


SH. 


SB. 


464 


134 


.289 


10 


33 


228 


m 


.289 


2 


5 


121 


35 


.289 


1 


1 


333 


96 


.288 


2 


10 


323 


93 


.288 


5 


9 


155 


44 


.284 





2 


99 


28 


.283 


2 


1 


311 


88 


.283 


4 


14 


142 


40 


.282 


4 


3 


245 


69 


.281 


9 


18 


249 


70 


.281 


5 


7 


139 


39 


.281 


11 


1 


314 


88 


.280 


12 


12 


86 


24 


.279 





3 


237 


m 


.278 


4 


40 


486 


135 


.278 


6 


26 


410 


114 


.278 


4 


14 


451 


150 


.277 


17 


23 


535 


148 


.277 


16 


19 


174 


48 


.276 


3 


6 


80 


22 


.275 





1 


520 


143 


.275 


5 


30 


427 


117 


.274 


3 


50 


509 


139 


.273 


5 


44 


81 


22 


.272 


1 


5 


110 


30 


.272 


1 


2 


55 


15 


.272 





. 2 


483 


131 


.271 


11 


3 


221 


60 


.271 


3 


9 


423 


114 


.270 


14 


28 


393 


106 


.269 


4 


36 


176 


47 


.267 


11 


6 


158 


43 


.266 


3 


22 


275 


73 


.265 


5 


3 


287 


76 


.264 


6 


12 


217 


58 


.263 


2 


14 


464 


122 


.263 


8 


10 


545 


143 


.262 


18 


9 


343 


90 


.622 


2 


13 


88 


23 


.261 





1 


391 


102 


.261 


10 


19 


466 


121 


.260 


13 


23 


231 


60 


.259 


3 


7 


77 


20 


.259 








330 


85 


.257 





6 


82 


21 


.256 


1 


3 


320 


83 


,256 


7 


4 



224 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Games. AB. 

Shugart, Louisville, 112 477 

Burns, N. Y. aud Brooklyn, 50 187 

Cross, Pittsburg, 108 395 

Bierbauer, Pittsburg, 119 479 

Buckley, Philadelphia, 29 104 

Kissinger, B. and St. L., 26 98 

Tucker, Boston, 126 464 

Rusie, New York, 46 177 

Mercer, Washington, 54 197 

Boyle, Philadelphia, 133 566 

Maul, Washington, 20 71 

Genins, Pittsburg, 64 249 

McGill, Pittsburg, 17 60 

German, New York, 31 106 

Stewart, Chicago, 97 364 

Wilson, New York, 62 238 

Inks, Louisville, 25 83 

W. H. Clarke, New York,.. . 32 118 

Hart, Pittsburg, 29 103 

Otten, St. Louis, 24 86 

C. Daly, Brooklyn, 40 150 

Nichols, Boston, 43 160 

Kinslow, Pittsburg, 17 61 

Rhines, Cincinnati, 32 110 

Fuller, New York, 126 457 

Brown, Was. and Lou., 118 490 

Welsh, Louisville, 39 147 

Terry, Chicago, ..-. 39 139 

Weyhing,Lou.,Phil.&Pitts., 27 95 

Knell, Cleve. and Lou. , . . . . 18 78 

Hoffer, Baltimore, 35 125 

Wallace, Cleveland, 27 97 

Young, Cleveland, 46 144 

Stivetts, Boston, 38 152 

Murphy, New York, 47 182 

Ehret, St. Louis, 31 101 

Bonner, Bait, and St. L.,. . . 25 97 

Hutchison, Chicago, 32 122 

Coogan, Washington, 21 73 

Breitenstein, St. Louis, 66 221 

Samuels, St. Louis, 22 70 

Schiebeck, Washington,... . 48 170 

Sullivan, Bait, and Cleve. , . . . 26 100 

Esper, Baltimore, 27 89 

Staley, St. Louis, 15 61 

McDermott, Louisville, .... 26 84 

Clarkson, Bait, and St. L.,.. 21 75 



BH. 


Pet. 


SH. 


SB. 


122 


.256 


3 


14 


48 


.256 


1 


5 


101 


.255 


6 


45 


122 


.255 


13 


19 


27 


.255 


4 


1 


25 


.255 


1 


1 


118 


.254 


11 


17 


45 


.254 





1 


50 


.254 


5 


8 


144 


.254 


2 


1 


18 


.253 


2 


1 


63 


.253 


1 





15 


.250 


1 





26 


.245 


1 


2 


89 


.244 


4 


10 


58 


.243 


2 


7 


20 


.241 


1 





28 


.237 





2 


24 


.233 


3 


1 


20 


.233 


1 


1 


35 


.233 


3 


4 


37 


.231 


1 


1 


14 


.230 


3 


1 


25 


.227 


2 





104 


.227 


7 


14 


111 


.226 


3 


3 


33 


.224 


1 


2 


31 


.222 


5 


1 


21 


.221 








17 


.218 


1 


2 


37 


.216 


3 


1 


21 


.216 


6 


3 


31 


.215 


2 


3 


32 


.211 


2 


2 


38 


.209 


2 


3 


21 


.208 


3 


1 


20 


.206 


2 


9 


25 


.205 








15 


.203 


1 


1 


42 


.190 


2 


5 


13 


.186 


4 


5 


31 


.182 


4 


6 


17 


.170 


1 


6 


15 


.168 


2 





9 


.164 


2 


1 


13 


.155 








9 


,120 


3 






THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 239 

R. Name and Club. Games. AB. R. BH. TB. BA. 

17 Willis, Br., 39 185 53 64 93 .346 

18 Waldron,P., 106 460 123 159 228 .345 

19 Weilil,N. B., 106 411 113 141 201 .344 

^^ S Shan't, B.,N.B.,L., 92 390 113 133 195 .342 

^" j Henry, B., 83 360 116 126 165 .342 

22 Whiting, T. , 106 481 140 163 223 .339 

23 Hayes, B., 83 352 66 119 174 .338 

„ . ( Butler, A., 79 288 61 97 122 .337 

"^"^ i Lawson, A. , Br. , . . . . 21 83 21 28 33 .337 

26 Rupert, L., F.R.,... 61 253 68 85 124 .336 

27 Troy, L., N. B., 22 87 20 29 36 .333 

28 Murphy, N.B., 73 293 78 97 125 .331 

29 Hickey,Br., 50 221 52 93 93 .330 

30 Slattery, Br.,L., 100 384 79 125 167 .326 

31 Murphy, L.,N.B.,... 73 335 85 109 138 .325 

32 Barton, P., Br., 80 319 58 103 151 .323 

QoJGoodhart, Po., 86 332 66 107 149 .322 

"^"^t Slater, Po., 74 311 91 100 138 .322 

or (Sheehan,Br., 15 56 13 18 25 .321 

"^^Ir. Shea,L., 40 168 29 54 71 .321 

07 ( Judd, B., 82 361 74 116 158 .320 

'^^ i O'Connell, L., N. B., 69 278 51 89 128 .320 

39 Friend, N, B., 57 204 36 65 83 .319 

40 Shaffer, Po., 51 211 44 67 89 .318 

41 Connor, A., 56 221 45 70 94 .317 

f J. Harrington, F. R., 106 470 122 148 218 .315 

.0 J Lehane, L. , 69 295 54 93 116 .315 

^"^ 1 J. Shea, Br., 77 289 33 91 108 .315 

Daley, P., 89 371 87 117 147 .315 

46 Burke, L., 35 128 18 40 44 .313 

Hayward, B., 101 429 76 113 152 .310 



"I 



Rudderham,L.,Br.,. 23 84 19 26 30 .310 

Kennedy, F. R., 95 396 71 121 152 .306 

49 1 Leighton, Po. , 95 383 97 117 169 .306 

( Dooley, Po., N. B., . . 27 124 26 38 41 .306 

52 Doherty, A., 98 397 96 121 174 .305 

53 Bradley, L., 18 76 8 23 26 .303 

64 Fitzmorris, F. R...... 107 456 96 138 176 .301 

..5 O'Brien, B., 102 437 95 131 189 .300 

^^ ] Stevens, F. R., 25 80 9 24 29 .300 

( O'Rourke, Po.,. ..... 49 201 37 60 88 .298 

57 JKelley, A., 88 329 64 98 125 .298 

(Delaney, N. B., 70 262 63 78 112 .298 

(Reilly, F. R., 105 425 83 126 163 .296 

60 J France, Br., 48 236 43 70 91 .296 

( Williams, L., 33 115 22 34 56 .296 

63 Maho'y,L.,N.B.,P., 42 157 32 46 56 .295 



240 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



R. Name and Club. 
0^ j Barkley, B. 



\ Gilbert, L. 

66 Stackhouse, Br.,. 

67 Pettit, Br., 

68 Pettee, L., 

69 Johnson, A 



Games. AB. 
22 86 



7^ (Bean, A., 

'"] McCarthy, A., 

^o j Deady, B., 

^^|Lang,P., 

74 Wheeler, B., 

7K ( R. Moore, B., 

•^] Buckley, A., Br...... 

77 (King, A., 

'M Spill, Po., 

79 Viau, A.,L., N. B.,. 

80 Sharp, N. B., 

81 Magoon, Po. , 

Qo ( Corbett, Po., 

^"^ I J. Irwin, Br., 

84 Flynn, A.,L., 

85 T. McDer'tt, F. R.,.. 

o^ ( Flack, L., 

^^ t Webster, Po„ 

' Ashe, Po. , 

J. Sullivan, P., 

Miller, Br., 

Bierbauer, P. , 

92 Quinlan, L., 

QQ ( M. Sullivan, Po., . . . 
^"^^Killeen, Po., 



88 



95 Crisham, L. , 

Q^ (M. Har'gton, F.R.,.. 

^^\ Gannon, Po., 

98 Meagher, B. , L. , 

(Doe, N. B., 

99] Wittrock, N. B., 

( Dilworth, A., 

102 Drinkwater, B , Br. , 

103 Dextraze, A. , 

.f.. ( Reagan, L., P., 

^^^lCoyle,A., 

106 Todd, P., 

107 Birmingham, N. B., 

108 Braham, B., 

109 Kelley, P., 

110 Grant, L., 



42 

104 
99 
90 
48 

104 
61 
98 
79 
62 
93 
83 
26 
97 
40 
88 

109 
60 
53 
44 

108 
93 
19 
19 
17 
20 
29 
20 
28 
32 
30 
71 
25 
45 
91 
23 
40 
17 
37 
38 
28 
38 
55 
22 
32 
34 



157 
406 
421 
401 
200 
457 
236 
433 
304 
226 
360 
284 
101 
379 
116 
378 
441 
212 
212 
165 
419 
403 

80 

61 

61 

68 
123 

73 
105 
113 
117 
261 

87 
171 
368 

76 
132 

53 
132 
142 

88 
140 
229 

70 
110 
129 



R. 

16 
32 
65 
111 
78 
35 
94 
49 
84 
70 
54 
63 
62 
18 
69 
20 
65 
90 
35 
36 
39 
122 
74 
16 
12 
13 
10 
15 

9 
17 
19 
14 
43 
14 
23 
80 
15 
15 

9 
24 
19 
11 
15 
32 
15 
25 
20 



BH. 

18 

46 

118 

123 

116 

57 

130 

67 

122 

85 

63 

100 

79 

28 

105 

32 

104 

120 

57 

57 

44 

127 

106 

21 

16 

16 

18 

31 

19 

27 

29 

30 

66 

22 

43 

92 

19 

33 

13 

32 

34 

21 

33 

53 

16 

25 

29 



TB. 

30 

56 

139 

149 

142 

75 

156 

91 

155 

108 

106 

136 

92 

31 

146 

48 

127 

157 

67 

79 

65 

163 

121 

28 

21 

20 

22 

34 

22 

39 

59 

49 

83 

30 

52 

120 

26 

43 

14 

42 

57 

27 

45 

70 

18 

38 

34 



BA. 

.293 
.293 
.291 
.290 
.289 
.285 
.284 
.284 
.280 
.280 
.279 
.278 
.278 
.277 
.277 
.276 
.275 
.272 
.269 
.269 
.267 
.265 
.263 
.263 
.262 
.262 
.262 
.262 
.260 
.257 
.257 
.256 
.253 
.253 
.251 
.250 
.250 
.250 
.247 
.242 
.239 
.239 
.236 
.231 
.229 
.227 
.225 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. " 241 



R. Name and Club. Games. AB. R. BH 

110 Dove, Po., N. B.,. . . 28 08 13 22 

112 Manning, Br., F.R., 21 72 6 16 

113 Beam, Br., 17 61 10 10 

114 Lincoln, F. R., 46 146 21 31 

... (Brady, L., 41 180 34 37 

^^^)Gill, L.,P., 34 126 25 26 

117 Terrien, Po., 60 212 28 43 

118 Meakin, P., 31 98 13 18 

liy Korwan, Br., 45 143 19 25 

120 Daniels, Po.,L...... 22 58 2 9 

121 Magee, Br., 20 60 4 9 

-, o.> J Donovan, Br. , 22 80 8 11 

^"^^ I Moynahan, N. B., . . 19 65 11 9 

124 Gildea, B., 15 52 5 3 



Individual Fielding Averages. 

pitchers. 

R. Name and Club. G. PO. A. 

1 Miller, N.B., 17 5 41 

2 Coyle, A., 24 9 62 

3 Lincoln, F. R., 41 13 90 

4 Friend, N.B., 38 30 80 

5 Mains, L., 44 20 107 

6 Kelley, P., 29 12 69 

7 Dilworth, A., 41 6 90 

8 Klobedanz, F. R., 42 20 91 

9 Ashe, Po., 16 6 28 

10 Meakin, P., 22 7 35 

11 Butler, A., 24 5 50 

12 Killeen, Po., 27 .9 28 

13 Wheeler, B., 47 19 92 

. , ( Korwan, Br. , N. B. ,. ... 40 21 70 

^^) Daniels, A., L., Po...... 23 5 41 

16 Viau, A.,L.,N. B., 32 17 71 

1 - j Drinkwater, B. , Br. , . . . . 17 1 25 

^' ] J. Sullivan, P., 15 2 33 

19 M. Sullivan, Po., 27 6 61 

20 Magee, Br., 17 4 28 

21 Todd, P., 37 11 77 

22 Braham, B., 21 10 43 

23 Williams, L., 22 11 53 

24 Baker, A., 18 10 32 

25 Stevens, F.R...... 17 2 23 

CATCHERS. 

1 Hayes, B., . 83 336 78 

2 Sharp, N.B., 64 299 58 



TB. 


BA. 


35 


.225 


20 


.222 


12 


.216 


35 


.212 


48 


.206 


29 


.206 


47 


.203 


19 


.184 


40 


.171 


11 


.155 


12 


.150 


18 


.138 


10 


.138 


4 


.058 



E. 


FA. 


1 


.979 


2 


.973 


3 


.972 


4 


.965 


5 


.962 


4 


.953 


5 


.950 


6 


.949 


2 


.944 


3 


.933 


4 


.932 


3 


.925 


10 


.917 


9 


.910 


4 


.910 


9 


.907 


3 


.897 


4 


.897 


8 


.893 


4 


.889 


12 


.880 


8 


.869 


11 


.853 


8 


.840 


6 


.807 


11 


.974 


13 


.965 



242 



THE VICTOR BASEBALIi GUIDE. 



K. Name and Club. G. PO. 

3 Terrien, Fo. , 60 328 

4 Rollins, F. R., 95 403 

5 Barkley,B., 20 73 

6 Goodhart,Fo., 50 209 

^ (Murphy, KB., 36 182 

^ ] Rupert, L., F.R., 37 133 

9 Kelly, A., 41 159 

10 J. Shea, Br., 74 309 

11 Burke,L., 34 138 

12 Butler, A., 52 181 

13 Veager,F., 78 291 

14 Crisham,L., 27 146 

15 Manning, Br., F. R.,.. . . 18 84 

FIRST BASEMEN. 

1 O'Brien, B., 102 1019 

2 N. Wise, P., Br., 38 402 

3 Birmingham, N. B.,. 55 515 

4 Slater, Fo., 74 709 

. j O'Connell, L.,N. B...... 55 596 

*^ I Baker, A., 20 .226 

7 Davis,F., 92 925 

g ( Kennedy, F. R., 95 840 

®]Dooley,Fo., 26 273 

10 Lehane, L., 69 659 

11 Kelly, A., 35 336 

12 J. Irwin, Br., 53 479 

13 Flynn, A., 23 240 

14 Connor, A., , 26 250 

SECOND BASEMEN. 

1 Pettee, L., *.,... 90 282 

2 T. McDermott, F. R.,.. 108 333 

ojLang, P., 79 268 

"^tHickey, Br., 50 162 

r \ R. Moore, B., 93 300 

^] Johnson, A., 48 133 

7 Delaney, N. B., 38 89 

8 Pettit, Br., 59 152 

9 Doe, N. B., 47 96 

10 Bierbauer, P., 29 72 

11 King, A., 20 55 

12 Corbett, Po., 92 226 

THIRD BASEMEN. 

1 Daley, P., 87 130 

2 Stackhouse, Br. , 103 178 

3 Sharp, N.B., 19 24 



A. 


E. 


FA. 


59 


15 


.963 


79 


21 


.958 


12 


4 


.955 


62 


14 


.951 


37 


12 


.947 


27 


9 


.947 


51 


13 


.942 


83 


25 


.940 


34 


15 


.920 


53 


21 


.918 


102 


38 


.912 


24 


18 


.904 


18 


12 


.895 


28' 


14 


.987 


17 


7 


.984 


30 


10 


.982 


28 


20 


.974 


12 


18 


.971 


11 


7 


.971 


38 


33 


.967 


34 


31 


.966 


. 9 


10 


.966 


39 


26 


.964 


4 


11 


.960 


24 


20 


.956 


10 


13 


.951 


6 


16 


.941 


281 


23 


.961 


340 


37 


.949 


234 


35 


.935 


155 


22 


.935 


306 


48 


.927 


157 


23 


.927 


103 


17 


.915 


142 


28 


.913 


123 


26 


.894 


43 


14 


.891 


66 


17 


.887 


264 


56 


.881 


182 


37 


.894 


199 


59 


.888 


39 


8 


.887 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 243 



R. Name and Club. G. PO. A. E. FA. 

4 Magoon, Pa, 109 173 263 67 .867 

5 J. Harrington, F.R...... 104 139 219 56 .865 

6 Nyce, N. B. , 68 109 165 45 .859 

7 Doherty, A. , 98 198 249 75 . 856 

8 F. Shea, L., 40 46 75 21 .852 

9 Hay ward, B. , 86 122 186 55 .848 

10 Meagher, L. , 39 63 77 26 .843 

SHORTSTOPS. 

1 Delaney, N. B., 18 29 56 9 .904 

2 Judd, B., 82 127 307 52 .893 

3 Reilly, F. R., 105 193 371 75 .890 

4 Pettit, Br., 18 22 36 9 .866 

5 Hannivan, P., 101 179 403 94 .861 

6 Steere, N. B., 77 154 220 62 .858 

7 Bean, A., 104 212 362 97 .855 

8 Reagan, L 36 65 143 40 .839 

9 France, Br., 42 67 161 49 .838 

10 Spill, Po., 97 162 313 96 .832 

11 G. Moore, B., 22 32 70 21 .821 

12 Gill, L., 30 46 90 21 .814 

13 Bradley,. L., 18 21 57 20 .796 

FIELDERS. 

1 Murphy, N. B., 21 29 2 1 .969 

2 Stephenson, P. , 16 23 4 2 .931 

3 McManus, A., Po., 26 61 6 5 .931 

4 Leighton, Po., 95 175 23 18 .917 

5 Buckley, A., Br., 84 147 16 16 .911 

6 Nadeau, Br. , . . 77 184 16 21 .905 

7 Walters, N.R., 85 259 22 28 .903 

Pickett, A.,. 108 260 25 31 .902 

Whiting, P., 106 244 41 31 .902 

Barton, P., 61 142 15 17 .902 

I Fitzmorris, F. R., 105 231 18 37 .902 

[ Ladd, F R. , 104 203 9 23 .902 

13 Weihl, N. B., 100 171 31 21 .901 

14 Slattery, Br., L., 100 186 9 22 .899 

.. j Waldron, P., 102 138 ^ 50 24 .887 

^•^ ] Flack, L., 90 172 16 34 .887 



17 Shaffer, Po., 50 80 13 12 

18 Goodhart, Po., 29 29 6 6 .876 

19 Troy, N. B-., 17 30 5 5 .875 

20 M. Harrington, F. R.,... 64 91 15 16 .869 

21 Dextraze, A., 30 60 5 10 .867 

22 Sharrott, B., 85 121 9 22 .855 

23 Baker, A., 31 40 17 .854 

24 McCarthy, A., 43 54 15 12 .852 



244 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

R. Name and Club. G. PO. 

25 Gilbert, L., 41 52 

26 Doe, N. B., 41 37 

27 Deady, B.,. 98 244 

28 Rupert, F. K., 84 40 

29 Henry, B., 7(3 151 

30 Wise, Br., 31 79 

oi ( O'Rourke, Po , 49 05 

""MPettit, Br., 21 36 

QQ i Brady, L., 38 66 

"^'^i Mains, L., 21 22 

35 Wheeler, B., 15 16 

pitchers' records. 

R. Name and Club. Games. W. 

1 Klobedanz, F. R. , 37 28 

2 Braliam,B., 21 16 

3 Williams, L., 18 13 

4 Friend, N.B 39 28 

5 Drmkwater,B.,Br...... 15 10 

6 Mains, L., 39 24 

7 Wheeler, B., 40 24 

8 J. Sullivan, P., 15 9 

9 Miller, N.B., ,... 15 9 

10 Korwan, Br., 38 22 

11 Todd, P., 30 17 

12 Coyle, A 23 13 

13 Lincoln, F. R., 36 20 

14 Killeen, Po., 22 12 

15 Stevens, F. R., 15 8 

16 M. Sullivan, Po., 23 12 

17 Kelley, P., 27 14 

18 Butler, A., 16 8 

19 Dilworth, A., 34 16 

20 Meakin, P., 20 8 

21 Viau, A, L., N. B...... 26 9 

22 Daniels, A., L., Po...... 18 6 

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST. 

1 Moynahan, N. B., 11 7 

2 Person, F.R., 11 6 

3 McCarthy, A., 10 5 

4 Witrock, N. B , 13 6 

5 Yerrick, Po., 13 6 

6 Magee, Br., 14 6 

7 Potter, L. , Po. , Br. , . . . . 10 4 

8 Ashe, Po., 11 4 

9 Gannon, Po. , 9 3 

10 Baker, A., 13 4 



A. 


E. 


FA. 





10 


.851 


6 


7 


.850 


25 


49 


.846 


7 


9 


.839 


10 


32 


.834 


1 


16 


.833 


16 


16 


.816 


4 


9 


.816 


9 


7 


.810 


12 


8 


.810 


4 


5 


.800 


L. 




P.W. 


9 




.769 


5 




.762 


5 




.722 


11 




.718 


5 




.667 


15 




.615 


16 




.600 


6 




.600 


6 




.600 


16 




.579 


13 




.567 


10 




.565 


16 




.556 


10 




.545 


7 




.533 


11 




.522 


13 




.519 


8 




.500 


18 




.471 


12 




.400 


17 




.346 


12 




.333 


4 




.636 


5 




.545 


5 




.500 


7 




.462 


7 




.462 


8 




.429 







.400 


7 




.364 


6 




.333 


9 




.308 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



245 



WESTERN ASSOCIATION RECORD 
FOR 1895. 



The Western Association 1895 campaign began 
May 2 and ended September 25. It was fairly suc- 
cessful. Lincoln won the pennant after a hard fight 
with Peoria and Des Moines. These three teams far 
outclassed all the other teams in the race. The only 
break of the season was caused by Omaha's* transfer 
to Denver and subsequent disbandment, causing the 
dropping of Denver and Jacksonville and the substi- 
tution of Dubuque and Burlington of the disbanded 
Iowa League. The complete record for the season 
follows : — 







2 
© 










? 






0) 








o 




1 


> 
6 


■i 
1 

10 


1 

10 


11 


14 


OJD 




1 


O 


1 


Des Moines, 




9 


5 


6 


71 


.563 


Springfield, 


6 




3 


5 


3 


6 


5 


6 





0'34 


.366 


Lincoln, 


13 


12 




8 


10 


5j 


9 


12 


2 


6 80 


.625 


Denver, 


6 


11 


5 




« 


7^ 


9 


5 





52 


.525 


Peoria, 


11 
6 


8 
6 


10 
10 


8 
8 


8 


10 


11 

8 


12 
1"^ 


4 


74 


574 


Ouincv 


8 


68 


500 


Rockford, 


7 


7 


9 


7 




10 




13 


4 


2 


66 


.524 


St. Joseph, 


6 


6 


6 


5 


6 


8 


4 




1 


4 


45 


.363 


Burlington, 








1 





2 


4 


2 


3 







12 


.480 


Dubuque, 




















1 


2 







3 


.125 


Lost, 


55 


59 


48 


47 


55 


63 


60 


79 


13 


21 


500| 









Summary. 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Lincoln, 80 48 .625 

Peoria, 74 55 .574 

Des Moines,... 71 55 .563 

Denver, 52 47 .525 

Rockford, m 60 .524 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Quincy, 63 63 .500 

Burlington, 12 13 .480 

Springfield,.... 34 59 .366 

St. Joseph, 45 79 .363 

Dubuque, 3 21 .125 



246 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE.' 



WESTERN ASSOCIATION AVERAGES FOR 

1895. 



The official batting and fielding averages of the 
Western Association for 1895, compiled by ex-Presi- 
dent Kent, are herewith given. Players who partici- 
pated in 15 or more games are given averages. Ex- 
ceptions are made in the case of Dubuque and Bur- 
lington players. The averages : — 

Individual Batting Averages. 

Name and Club. Games. AB. R. B. Ave. 

Kreigh, Rockford, 119 524 117 237 .452 

McBride, Rockford, 32 145 46 59 .406 

Stewart, Rockford, 15 58 20 23 .396 

O'Brien, Omaha, 75 325 86 127 .390 

Holmes, Des Moines, 42 163 46 63 .386 

Jackson, Burlington, 25 99 30 38 .383 

Spratt, Burlington, 22 92 21 34 .369 

La Rocque, Quincy,.. ...... 82 323 84 117 .362 

Letcher, Des Moines, 86 512 115 184 .359 

Truby, Rockford, 52 224- 57 79 .353 

Lohman, St. Joe, 1< •2 401 100 141 .351 

Parrott, Rockford, 26 114 18 40 .351 

Purvis, Des Moines, 107 373 73 130 .348 

Howe, St. Joe, 36 121 39 42 .347 

Hutchinson, Omaha, 77 329 85 114 .347 

Slagle, Omaha, 86 371 114 128 .345 

Mertes, Quincy, 85 368 116 127 .345 

White, Burlington, 22 93 32 32 .345 

Dolan, Rockford, 20 73 19 25 .342 

Katz, Jacksonville, 82 452 121 153 . 338 

Visner, Rockford, 108 478 136 158 .330 

Bennett, Peoria, 89 371 69 122 .328 

Farrell, Quincy, 62 267 57 87 .326 

Taylor, Jacksonville 33 184 39 60 .326 

Caruthers, Jacksonville,.... 92 371 100 119 .319 

Haller, Peoria, 87 369 83 117 .317 

Thomas, Peoria, 48 177 33 56 .316 

Kennedy, Lincoln, 113 449 116 141 .315 

Dillon, Dubuque, 19 67 12 21 .314 

Flaherty, Rockford, 45 198 28 62 .313 

Pace, Omaha, 69 286 68 89 .312 

Hines, Burlington, 21 87 16 27 .310 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 247 



Name and Club. Games. 

Lynch, Burlington, 22 

Pabst, Rockf ord, 40 

Conners, Peoria, 16 

McFarland, Des Moines,. . . 105 

Ames, Dubuque, 11 

Seisler, Peoria, 86 

Dugdale, Peoria, 64 

Shaffer, Omaha, 99 

Fisher, Peoria, 101 

Collins, Peoria, 79 

Egan, Jacksonville, 69 

Darby, Omaha, , 22 

Marcum, St. Joe, 110 

Inks, Omaha, 106 

Flynn, Peoria, 108 

E bright, Lincoln, 114 

Armstrong, Quincy, 84 

Ulrich, Omaha, 86 

Balsz, Omaha, 25 

McVicker, Des Moines,. ... 115 

Gragg, Lincoln, 39 

Nattress, Omaha, 41 

Mohler, Des Moines, 112 

Jantzen, Jacksonville, ..... 26 

Bear, Dubuque, 14 

Hanson, Peoria, 52 

Devinney, Jacksonville,.... 92 

Logue, St. Joe, 17 

White, Quincy, 64 

Morrissey, Dubuque, 14 

Richter, St. Joe, 54 

Van Buren, Lincoln, 114 

Jones, St. Joe, 102 

McKibben, Des Moines, 102 

Preston, Des Moines, 26 

Cole, Lincoln, 64 

Sullivan, Lincoln, ..... 113 

Alberts, St. Joe, 103 

Miles, St. Joe, 92 

Hoover, Jacksonville, 51 

Speer, Lincoln, 110 

Boland, Quincy, 86 

Hollingsworth, Lincoln,. . . . 115 

Hickey, Quincy, 68 

Meehan, Jacksonville, 44 

Griffin, St. Joe, 93 

Kimerer, Lincoln, 68 



AB. 


R. 


B. 


Ave. 


94 


22 


29 


.308 


173 


47 


53 


.307 


62 


18 


19 


.306 


412 


104 


136 


.306 


46 


4 


14 


.304 


382 


67 


116 


.303 


248 


37 


75 


.302 


460 


121 


139 


.302 


404 


105 


122 


.302 


269 


59 


81 


.301 


349 


72 


105 


.300 


80 


15 


24 


.300 


456 


75 


136 


.299 


437 


86 


131 


.299 


424 


145 


126 


.297 


490 


107 


145 


.296 


377 


70 


110 


.291 


371 


114 


108 


.291 


97 


22 


28 


.289 


479 


102 


138 


.288 


139 


16 


30 


.287 


167 


37 


48 


.287 


440 


115 


126 


.286 


105 


12 


30 


.285 


57 


9 


16 


.280 


171 


30 


46 


.280 


387 


82 


108 


.279 


82 


25 


23 


.279 


276 


45 


77 


.279 


58 


2 


16 


.279 


215 


38 


60 


.279 


448 


126 


137 


.279 


405 


58 


113 


.278 


393 


83 


109 


.277 


90 


19 


25 


.277 


271 


45 


75 


.276 


409 


85 


112 


.273 


380 


61 


103 


.271 


354 


66 


96 


.271 


207 


33 


56 


.270 


458 


97 


124 


.270 


354 


70 


95 


.268 


474 


79 


127 


.268 


367 


64 


98 


.267 


191 


39 


51 


.267 


334 


65 


89 


.266 


219 


51 


58 


.265 



248 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Name and Club. Games. 

McHale, St. Joe, 101 

Zeis, Jacksonville, 44 

Burris, Dubuque, 14 

Francis, Peoria, 103 

Thornton, Rockford, 27 

Holland, Rockford, 96 

Traffley, Des Moines, 92 

Figgemeier, Des Moines,. . . 46 

Nulton, Peoria, 95 

Underwood, Rockford, 62 

Kling, Rockford, 118 

Belt, Jacksonville, 82 

Hill, Lincoln, , 115 

Andrews, Des Moines, 41 

Le Rett, St. Joe, 69 

Donnelly, Omaha, 29 

McCormack, Quincy, ...... 82 

Colburn, St. Joe, 24 

McCarthy, St. Joe,. 99 

Snyder, Rockford, 108 

Van Dyke, Jacksonville, ... 63 

Wilbur, Dubuque, 11 

Phillips, Dubuque, 14 

McGrevey, Quincy, 41 

McVey, St. Joe, 75 

Nichols, Burlington, 16 

Parvin, St. Joe, 21 

Mesmer, Burlington, 22 

Veach, St. Joe, 29 

White, Jacksonville, 18 

Caplinger, Jacksonville, — 29 

Gate wood, St. Joe, 30 

Seery, St. Joe, 48 

Carrish, Omaha, 23 

Eagan, Omaha, 31 

Roach, Des Moines, 69 

Horton, Rockford, 42 

Schwartz, Jacksonville, 39 

Hackett, Burlington, 14 

Johnson, St. Joe, 39 

Slagle, St. Joe, 58 

Parker, Jacksonville, 29 

Trainor, Rockford, 18 

Barnes, Lincoln, 58 

Keas, Dubuque, 14 

Stultz, St. Joe, 16 

Zeigler, St. Joe, 25 



AB. 


E. 


B. 


Ave. 


411 


72 


109 


.265 


188 


29 


50 


.265 


53 


11 


14 


.264 


409 


77 


108 


.264 


99 


23 


26 


.263 


406 


57 


106 


.261 


350 


53 


92 


.260 


140 


22 


36 


.257 


382 


73 


98 


.257 


242 


40 


62 


.256 


482 


84 


123 


.256 


309 


47 


79 


.255 


494 


123 


125 


.253 


132 


19 


33 


.260 


275 


44 


69 


.250 


101 


25 


25 


.247 


326 


53 


81 


.245 


75 


7 


18 


.240 


425 


74 


102 


.239 


404 


62 


96 


.237 


245 


45 


58 


.236 


42 


9 


10 


.236 


60 


8 


14 


.233 


156 


9 


36 


.231 


303 


55 


70 


.231 


52 


9 


12 


.230 


93 


8 


21 


.226 


90 


15 


20 


.222 


100 


18 


22 


.222 


61 


12 


13 


.213 


80 


9 


17 


.212 


119 


18 


25 


.210 


197 


35 


41 


.208 


75 


10 


16 


.203 


103 


14 


21 


.203 


208 


27 


42 


.202 


135 




27 


.200 


130 


16 


26 


.200 


6(j 


5 


13 


.198 


132 


14 


25 


.189 


196 


24 


37 


.188 


101 


11 


19 


.188 


70 


6 


13 


.185 


210 


30 


38 


.181 


53 ^ 


5 


9 


.169 


60 


3 


10 


.166 


111 


ir» 


18 


.162 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 249 



Name and Club. Games. AB. R. 

Sonier, Des Moines, 44 181 15 

Mauck, Des Moines, 17 50 9 

Individual Fielding Averages, 
catchers. 

Name and Club. Games. TO. A. 

Dugdale, Peoria, 61 258 50 

Traffley, Des Moines, 54 190 00 

Collins, Peoria, 54 225 41 

Belt, Jacksonville, 20 95 26 

Speer, Lincoln, 110 358 115 

McFarland, Des Moines, ... 55 177 47 

Hoover, Jacksonville, 50 202 00 

Snyder, Rockland, 108 540 110 

Boland, Quincy, 70 320 05 

Jones, St. Joe, 90 343 111 

Lynch, Burlington, 20 88 24 

McHale, St. Joe, 22 100 45 

Lohmen, St. Joe, 99 401 1 59 

PITCHERS. 

Andrews, Des Moines,. 31 13 59 

Slagle, St. Joe, 37 10 00 

Figgemeier, Des Moines, 40 10 120 

Underwood, Rockford, 42 8 128 

Roach, Jacksonville, 49 12 84 

Stultz, St. Joe, 15 7 45 

Hanson, Peoria, 40 23 117 

Darby, Omaha, 20 9 53 

Barnes, Lincoln, 41 13 108 

Sonier, Jacksonville,.. 41 10 79 

McGrevey, Quincy,. 37 11 83 

Balsz, Peoria, 24 12 67 

Eagan, Omaha, 29 5 02 

Parker, Jacksonville, 19 13 41 

Nichols, Quincy, 10 2 30 

Horton, Rockford, 33 11 09 

Thornton, Rockford, 13 5 25 

Leitman, Lincoln, 11 4 13 

Schwartz, Jacksonville, 34 10 61 

Kimerer, Lincoln, 40 31 95 

Caplinger, Jacksonville, 20 27 

Parvin, St. Joe, 21 3 33 

Gragg, Lincoln, 37 17 01 

Thomas, Peoria, 40 14 74 

Howe, Rockland, 10 3 24 

Carrish, Omaha, 19 7 38 

Colburn, St. Joe, 2'4 3 52 



B. 


Ave. 


17 


.129 


5 


.100 


E. 


Ave. 


11 


.90(5 


11 


.958 


13 


.953 





.953 


24 


.951 


12 


.949 


14 


.949 


38 


.946 


22 


.946 


27 


.944 





.944 


11 


.930 


35 


.916 


2 


.973 


3 


.904 


5 


.903 





.958 


5 


.950 


o 
• > 


.940 


8 


.941 


4 


.939 


8 


.938 





.930 


8 


.921 


7 


.919 





.918 


5 


.916 


4 


.913 


8 


.909 


3 


.909 


1 


.905 


8 


.898 


15 


.893 


4 


.890 


8 


.887 


11 


.876 


13 


.871 


4 


.871 


7 


.865 


9 


.859 



S50 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Name and Club. Games. PO. 

Mauck, Des Moines, 16 4 

Dolan, Rockford, 19 3 

Donnelly, Quincy, 11 8 

FIRST BASEMEN. 

Morrissey, Dubuque, 14 164 

Kreig, Rockford, 90 825 

Sullivan, Lincoln, 98 998 

McVey, Quincy, 75 806 

Caruthers, Jacksonville, .... 75 601 

Purvis, Des Moines, 107 972 

Marcum, St. Joe, 83 828 

Haller, Peoria, 86 902 

O'Brien, Omaha, 74 756 

Inks, Omaha, 37 323 

Pabst, Rockford, 34 358 

Hines, Burlington, 21 240 

Veach, St. Joe, 27 195 

SECOND BASEMEN. 

Fisher, Peoria, 51 99 

Stewart, Rockford, 15 46 

Mohler, Des Moines, 112 376 

Miles, St. Joe, 20 42 

Ulrich, Omaha, 15 41 

Nulton, Peoria, 48 114 

Richter, St. Joe, 49 126 

Alberts, St. Joe, 16 45 

La Rocque, Quincy, 76 216 

Truby, Rockford, 50 137 

Ebright, Lincoln, 114 310 

Egan, Jacksonville, 34 163 

Hutchinson, Omaha, 77 190 

Le Rett, St. Joe, 25 77 

Gatewood, St. Joe, 25 70 

Burriss, Dubuque, 14 49 

Inks, Omaha, 21 51 

Visner, Rockford, 16 45 

Caruthers, Jacksonville 15 37 

Meehan, Jacksonville, 24 60 

THIRD BASEMEN. 

Alberts, St. Joe, 78 114 

Hickey, Des Moines, 39 70 

Nulton, Peoria, 47 58 

McCormack, Quincy, 82 109 

Parrott, Rockford, ,22 19 

Francis, Peoria, 49 92 



A. 


E. - 


Ave. 


19 


4 


.851 


30 


8 


.805 


19 


7 


.794 


8 


1 


.992 


33 


12 


.986 


49 


22 


.979 


28 


18 ^ 


.979 


27 


16 


.975 


19 


27 


.974 


34 


24 


.973 


37 


25 


.969 


32 


28 


.965 


18 


15 


.958 


12 


16 


.958 


8 


19 


.933 


10 


16 


.927 


143 


12 


.973 


50 


6 


.941 


353 


47 


.939 


63 


7 


.937 


30 


5 


.934 


136 


19 


.929 


158 


25 


.919 


41 


8 


.915 


201 


43 


.907 


170 


33 


.903 


330 


71 


.900 


185 


41 


.895 


199 


48 


.890 


72 


20 


.881 


85 


23 


.878 


41 


13 


.873 


71 


18 


.871 


35 


12 


.870 


35 


11 


.867 


72 


23 


.851 


201 


41 


.914 


117 


18 


.912 


131 


19 


.908 


215 


36 


.^)00 


33 


6 


.897 


110 


28 


.878 



Mie VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. ' 2f)l 



Name and Club. Games PO. 

Mesmer, Burlington, 21 17 

Hill, Lincoln, 115 168 

Ulrich, Quincy, 48 110 

Holland, Rockford, 45 49 

McKibben, Des Moines, ... 47 77 

Egan, Jacksonville, 15 26 

Flaherty, Eockf ord, 30 47 

Nattress, Omaha, 31 37 

Belt, Jacksonville, 15 20 

Taylor, Jacksonville, 33 64 

Zeigler, St. Joe, 23 23 

Keas, Dubuque, 14 15 

SHORTSTOPS. 

Spratt, Burlington, 22 39 

Phillips, Dubuque, 14 18 

Francis, Peoria, 53 99 

Ulrich, Omaha, 19 57 

Traffley, Des Moinea, 31 35 

Holland, Rockford, 51 84 

Inks, Omaha, 47 59 

Fisher, Peoria, 50 91 

Farrell, Quincy, 43 74 

Miles, St. Joe, 67 129 

Hollings worth, Lincoln, 115 198 

Griffin, St. Joe, 93 172 

Devinney, Jacksonville, 61 146 

Le Rett, St. Joe, 22 43 

Hickey, Des Moines, 26 63 

Belt, Jacksonville, 21 47 

Holmes, Des Moines, 19 24 

Logue, StJoe, 16 44 

Preston, Des Moines, 19 26 

OUTFIELDERS. 

Flynn, Peoria, 103 271 

Visner, Rockford, 92 183 

McKibben, Des Moines, 50 119 

McBride, Rockford, 32 53 

McHale, St. Joe, 67 136 

Kimerer, Lincoln, 26 38 

Letcher, Des Moines, 81 195 

Cole, Lincoln, 64 164 

Van Buren, Lincoln, 114 231 

McCarthy, St. Joe, 98 222 

Kennedy, Lincoln, 112 177 

White, Quincy, 58 152 



A. 


E. 


Ave. 


56 


10 


.878 


234 


56 


.877 


96 


29 


.877 


85 


20 


.870 


111 


32 


.854 


35 


12 


.836 


53 


20 


.833 


46 


18 


.822 


32 


14 


.818 


68 


31 


.797 


45 


20 


.773 


39 


12 


.627 


89 


8 


.941 


63 


6 


.931 


123 


28 


.907 


48 


11 


.904 


97 


15 


.898 


165 


35 


.877 


148 


31 


.874 


166 


40 


.865 


138 


33 


.863 


209 


54 


.862 


375 


113 


.848 


275 


80 


.848 


176 


69 


.823 


64 


28 


.823 


82 


32 


.819 


69 


26 


.817 


42 


16 


.805 


42 


26 


.768 


38 


33 


.660 


24 


15 


.951 


11 


36 


.936 


11 


9 


.935 


5 


4 


.935 


24 


11 


.934 


5 


3 


.934 


20 


16 


.931 


9 


13 


.930 


14 


20 


.921 


17 


21 


.920 


34 


12 


.914 


29 


17 


.914 



252 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Name and Club. Games. PO. 

Bennett, Peoria, 88 153 

Flaherty, Rockford, 15 18 

Katz, Jacksonville, 87 179 

Van Dyke, Jacksonville,. . .. 52 111 

Jackson, Burlington, 22 85 

Connors, Peoria, 16 26 

Kling, Rockford, 96 179 

Armstrong, Quincy, 175 127 

McVicker, Des Moines, 43 74 

McFarland, Des Moines, 43 74 

White, Burlington, 22 33 

Bear, Dubuque, 14 26 

Shaffer, Omaha, 81 176 

Seisler, Peoria, 73 78 

Devinney, Jacksonville, 30 59 

Belt, Jacksonville, 25 48 

Barnes, Lincoln, 17 31 

Seery, St Joe, 48 73 

Kreig, Rockford, 27 46 

Underv^ood, Rockford, .... 19 15 

Slagle, Omaha, 86 193 

Pace, Omaha, 62 84 

Donnelly, Omaha, 18 24 

Trainor, Rockford, 16 24 

White, Jacksonville, 18 32 

Marcum, St. Joe, 27 50 

Hackett, Burlington, 14 18 

Mertes, Quincy, 82 171 

Ames, Dubuque, 11 21 

Howe, St. Joe, 17 28 

Zeiss, Jacksonville, 37 45 

Meehan, Jacksonville, 19 34 



A. 


E. 


Ave. 


15 


16 


.913 


3 


2 


.913 


22 


21 


,906 


12 


13 


.904 


2 


4 


.903 


1 


3 


.900 


43 


25 


.899 


11 


16 


.896 


13 


11 


.887 


13 


11 


.887 


1 


5 


.872 


1 


4 


.871 


17 


29 


.869 


8 


13 


.866 


5 


10 


.865 


4 


9 


.852 





5 


.851 


6 


14 


.848 


4 


9 


.848 


1 


3 


.840 


22 


41 


.839 


14 


20 


.831 


4 


5 


.831 


15 


8 


.830 


6 


8 


.827 


4 


12 


.818 


2 


5 


.800 


15 


32 


.786 


1 


6 


,786 


6 


9 


.785 


3 


15 


.761 





10 


.727 



1 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE, 



253 



PENNSYLVANIA LEAGUE RECORD 
FOR 1895. 



The Peansylvania League's 1895 campaign was a 
troublous one. The campaign was originally divided 
into two seasons, the first running from May 1 to 
June 13, and the second from June 14 to September 
14. The Shenandoah club dropped out in May. In 
June Harrisburg disbanded. It was then decided to 
close the season with Allentown as the first season 
champion team and to start anew with another sched- 
ule beginning June 15. In the second season Allen- 
town and Pottsville dropped out and the schedule was 
played out by four clubs, the Allentown team being 
transferred to Reading. The complete record of the 
campaign was as follows : — 



Allentown, 
Carbondale 
Hazleton,.. 
Lancaster, 
Pottsville, . 
Reading, . 
Lost, . . 



7 
4 
6 

24 



6 










J 


ci 


. 


u 


« 




1 


1 


i 


2 




be 


. 


u 


3 


a 


13 


ci 


o 


rt 




a 


o 


Qi 




o 


w 


4 


Ph 


Ph 


^ 


3 


4 


2 


2 


15 




10 


10 


5 


8 


40 


9 




9 


4 


14 


43 


10 


1) 




4 


11 


38 





2 


3 




3 


14 


7 


3 


5 


5 




20 


21) 


28 


31 


20 


38 


170 



,385 
,580 
,606 
,551 
.412 
.345 



Summary. 





Won. 


Lost. 


Pet. 




Won. 


Lost. 


Pot. 


Hazleton, . . 


...43 


28 


.606 


Pottsville, . . 


...14 


20 


.412 


Carbondale, 


...40 


29 


.580 


Allentown,.. 


...15 


24 


.385 


Lancaster, . . 


...38 


31 


.551 


Reading, . . . 


....20 


38 


.345 



254 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

The first season and second season champions, 
Reading (ex-Allentown) and Hazleton, played their 
deciding part-season series at Philadelphia Ball Park, 
September 16 and 17, and Hazleton won both games 
easily, the scores being 17 to 9 and 17 to 6, thus win- 
ning the all-season championship. 



I 



PENNSYLVANIA LEAGUE AVERAGES FOR 

1895. 



•I 



The official batting and fielding averages of the 

Pennsylvania League for the season of 1895, as made 

out by ex-President Hanlon, are herewith given : — 

Individual Batting Averages. 

Rank. Games. AB. R. BH. Ave. 

i '1 ighe, Pottsville, 16 79 27 42 . 53 1 

2 Milligan, AlPn, Rdg...... 55 228 61 103 .457 

3 Hess, Carbondale, 38 171 65 77 .450 

4 T. Smith, Hazelton, .... 11 42 9 18 .428 

5 Massey, CarboDdale,.... 71 323 94 133 .411 
Hill, Potts., HazH'n,.... 86 396 121 160 .404 
Graham, HazletOD,. ... 37 163 29 m .404 

7 Merriman, Shenandoah,. 15 57 11 22 .385 

8 Eustice, Pottsville, . . . . . 60 264 90 100 .378 

9 Eagan, Harrisburg, 30 136 42 51 .375 

10 Patchen, Carbondale, .. . 49 213 53 79 .370 

11 Dailey, Har'b'g, Lane.,. 61 273 51 99 .362 

12 Larkin, AlPn, Rdg...... 66 285 68 102 .357 

13 McVey, Hazleton 86. 393 101 139 .353 

Golden, Har»g, Airn,... 56 245 50 86 .351 

" Smith, Pottsville, ... . 23 131 43 46 .351 

15 Rhodes, Reading, 13 43 4 15 .348 

16 McCoach, Shen., Potts., 47 205 36 71 .346 

17 Costello, Allentown,. . . . 40 151 26 52 .344 

18 Smink, Rdg., Lane., . ... 51 220 74 77 .340 

19 Jordan, Hazleton, 50 180 42 61 .338 

20 G. Fox, Potts., Rdg.,... 65 296 70 100 .337 
f G. Westlake, Garb., .... 64 283 71 95 .335 

01 J Schaub, Hazleton, 89 391 105 131 .335 

^MLeidy, Rdg., Lane., 70 304 66 102 .335 

[Buttermore, Rdg.,Lan., 62 262 75 88 .335 

22 Best, Lancaster, 16 70 14 23 .328 

23 Staltz, Carbondale, 71 322 80 105 .320 



^^\f: 



THE A'ICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 255 

Rank. Games. AB. R. BP[. Ave. 

24: Weand, Reading, 58 245 53 79 .322 

25 Davis, Potts., Hazleton, 32 190 39 61 .321 

26 Stouch, Lancaster, 67 271 67 86 .319 

27 Miller, Potts., Rdg...... 76 337 74 107 .317 

28 Mulvey, Allentown, . . . . 27 120 33 38 .316 
(Rothermel, Hazleton,... 29 140 29 44 .314 

29^ Kappel, Lancaster, 46 194 36 61 .314 

[ G. Moran, Hazleton, .... 88 385 139 121 .314 

orv ( Beaumont, Reading, 59 278 56 87 .312 

'^^•j J. Moran, Carbondale,.. 37 147 39 46 .312 

r Donahue, Lane, Airn,.. 40 161 26 50 .310 

31 ^ Kelley, Harrisburg, 22 87 20 27 .310 

[ Yeager, Lancaster, 40 153 31 49 .310 

.3^ j Hughes, Pottsville, 16 152 9 16 .307 

'^'^] Stanhope, Potts., Rdg,.. 54 218 59 67 .307 

33 Huston, Harrisburg,.... 34 147 40 45 .306 

34 Willis, Harrisburg, 16 46 14 14 .304 

oc j Meaney, Harrisburg, ... 31 126 32 38 .301 

""^ I Scheible, Reading, 31 106 26 32 .301 

36 Dwyer, Allentown, 55 240 53 72 .300 

37 Cargo, Lancaster, 68 284 53 85 .299 

38 Childs, Haz., Har'g,.... 88 345 70 103 .298 

Henry, Reading, 59 262 63 78 .297 

Seybold, Lancaster,.... 64 259 55 77 .297 

.^ ( Ellis, Pottsville, 67 317 85 93 .293 

*" I Reagan, Lancaster, 29 126 18 37 .293 

41 Little, Shenandoah, .... 15 59 9 17 .288 

42 Cain, Pottsville, 25 95 20 26 .284 

,o j McGarvey, Shenandoah, 16 64 13 18 .281 

'^'^ \ Shields, Hazleton, Carb , 61 252 46 71 .281 

44 M. Moran, Allentown, . . 30 132 36 37 .280 

45 Keener, Hazleton, 33 126 17 35 .277 

46 Sales, Carbondale, 72 292 63 79 .270 

47 Torreyson, Reading, ... . 45 194 58 52 .268 

48 Conroy, Potts., Rdg.,... 36 161 26 43 .267 

49 Clark, Shenandoah, 15 53 10 14 .264 

50 Carfrey, Hazleton, 49 209 34 55 .263 

51 Young, Reading, 13 46 5 12 .260 

52 Boyle, Harrisburg, 17 67 9 17 .255 

53 Weikert, Allentown,.... 55 225 35 65 .254 
■ Leaman, Reading, 60 255 62 64 .25o 

Severs, Shenandoah,.... 10 36 5 9 .250 

Baldwin, Pottsville, 10 32 6 8 ,250 

West, Lancaster, ...... . 33 100 10 25 .250 

55 McGloughlin, Carbon., . . 26 94 17 23 .244 

56 Elverson, Reading, 13 41 8 10 .213 

67 Ely, Allentown, Lane.,.. 47 200 46 58 .240 



39 I 



54 



256 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

Rank. Games. AB. R. 

68 Scallin, Lancaster, 16 71 15 

59 Moore, Hazleton, 41 148 21 

60 Wetzel, Carbondale,.... 71 297 55 
( Sweeney, Allen town, ... 55 210 32 

61 ] Blakely, Allentown,. ... 31 112 12 
( Meyers, Lane., Haz't'n, 48 184 25 

62 Arthur, Lancaster, 53 206 20 

63 Michael, Reading, 33 113 20 

64 Baker, Allentown, 27 92 12 

65 Pitz, Hazleton, 13 52 10 

66 Flanigan, Carbondale, . . 23 80 5 

67 P. Eox, Har'b'g,Potts.,. 23 92 14 

68 Anderson, Carbondale, . 29 100 10 

69 R. Westlake, Hazleton, 51 202 41 

70 Yerkes, Lane, Carb.,... 29 94 8 

71 Quarles, Hazleton, 14 39 3 

Individual Pielding Averages. 

pitchers. 

Games. PO.&A. 

T. Smith, Hazleton, 11 20 

Quarles, Hazleton, 14 18 

Yerkes, Lancaster, Carbon. , . 29 55 

Jordan, Hazleton, 50 107 

Cain, Pottsville, 25 57 

Baldwin, Pottsville, 10 27 

Elverson, Reading, 13 22 

Severs, Shenandoah, 10 20 

Keener, Hazleton, 33 118 

Rhodes, Reading, 13 19 

McGloughlin, Carbondale,.. 26 209 

Anderson, Carbondale, 29 70 

Hughes, Pottsville, 16 33 

Flanigan, Carbondale, 23 64 

Michael, Reading, 33 64 

Scheible, Reading, 31 59 

West, Lancaster, 33 45 

Yeager, Lancaster, 40 114 

Blakely, Allentown, 31 42 

Baker, Allentown, 27 61 

Willis, Harrisburg, 16 31 

Mayer, Allentown, Reading, 30 51 

CATCHERS. 

Milligan, Allentown, Read.,. 55 234 

B. Westlake, Hazleton, 51 259 



17 


.239 


375 


.236 


70 


.236 


45 


.214 


24 


.214 


39 


.214 


43 


.208 


23 


.203 


18 


.195 


10 


.192 


15 


.187 


16 


.173 


17 


.170 


32 


.158 


14 


.148 


5 


.128 



E. 


Ave. 





1.000 





, 1.000 


1 


.982 


2 


.980 


2 


.960 


1 


.964 


1 


.955 


1 


.952 





.951 


1 


.950 


5 


.932 


6 


.921 


3 


.916 


6 


.914 


6 


.909 


6 


.908 


5 


.900 


13 


.897 


5 


.893 


8 


.885 


4 


.885 


11 


.822 


7 


.970 


10 


.962 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



257 



Games. PO.&A. 

Hess, Carbondale, 38 145 

Moore, Hazleton, 41 189 

Roth, Harrisburg, Lancaster, 85 174 

G. Fox, Pottsville, Reading, . 65 279 

Arthur, Lancaster, 53 220 

Patchen, Carbondale, 49 270 

Smink, Readins:, 51 212 

Kelley , Harrisburg, 22 98 

Stanhope, Pottsville, Read. , . 54 179 

FIRST BASEMEN. 

Larkin, AUentown, Reading, 66 882 

Massey, Carbondale, 71 068 

Meyers, Lancaster, Hazleton, 48 553 

Dailey, Harrisburg, Lan.,. .. 61 576 

Beaumont, Reading, 59 565 

Fuller, Pottsville, Hazleton, . 83 598 

Little, Shenandoah, 15 149 

Carfrey, Hazleton, 49 270 

SECOND BASEMEN. 

Conroy, Pottsville, Reading,. 36 254 

Tighe, Pottsville, 16 102 

Stouch, Lancaster, 67 454 

G. Westlake, Carbondale,... 64 346 

Childs, Harrisb'rg, HazleVn,. 88 544 

Davis, Pottsville, Hazleton,.. 32 248 

Weikert, AUentown, 55 350 

Torreyson, Reading, 45 230 

Shields, Hazleton, Carbon.,. 61 271 

Merriman, Shenandoah, 15 88 

THIRD BASEMEN. 

Kappel, Lancaster, 46 181 

Mulvey, AUentown, 27 117 

Sales, Carbondale, 72 281 

Henry, Reading, 59 257 

Ellis, Pottsville, Reading, ... 67 264 

Schaub, Hazleton, 89 328 

Ely, AUentown, Lancaster,.. 47 136 

Boyle, Harrisburg, 17 60 

McGarvey, Shenandoah, 15 52 

SHORTSTOPS. 

Huston, Harrisburg, 34 103 

Sweeney, AUentown, 55 330 



E. 


Ave. 


6 


.960 


8 


.959 


8 


.956 


16 


.945 


14 


.940 


20 


.931 


16 


.920 


8 


.924 


20 


.899 


11 


.984 


15 


.978 


45 


.973 


16 


.972 


18 


.969 


29 


.953 


9 


.943 


25 


.915 


13 


.951 


6 


.944 


28 


.941 


25 


.940 


39 


.933 


21 


,921 


31 


.918 


21 


.916 


43 


.862 


17 


.838 


19 


.t)05 


14 


.893 


37 


.883 


34 


.883 


44 


.857 


55 


.856 


30 


.819 


14 


.810 


18 


.742 


12 


.927 


45 


.880 



258 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Games. PO. «& A. 

Cargo, Lancaster, Carbon.,.. 68 392 

Eustice, Pottsville, 60 352 

Rothermel, Hazleton, 29 160 

Young, Reading, 13 58 

Wetzel, Carbondale, 71 335 

Buttermore, Reading, Lan.,. 62 303 

Clark, Shenandoah, 15 77 

FIELDERS. 

J. Smith, Pottsville, 33 52 

J. Moran, Carbondale, 37 60 

McVey, Hazleton, 86 213 

Staltz, Carbondale, 71 202 

Golden, Harrisburg, Allen.,. 56 166 

Leidy, Reading, Lancaster,.. 70 198 

M. Moran, Allentown, 30 90 

McQuaid, Carbondale, 64 179 

G. Moran, Hazleton, 88 187 

Meaney, Harrisburg, 31 55 

Seybold, Lancaster, 64 152 

Best, Lancaster, 16 35 

Donahue, Lancaster, Allen., 40 91 

Dwyer, Allentown, 55 56 

Weand, Reading, 58 165 

Eagan, Harrisburg, 30 77 

Scallin, Lancaster, 16 47 

Miller, Pottsville, Reading, . . 76 230 

Leamon, Reading, 60 132 

Costello, Allentown, 40 105 

Dona van, Hazleton, 32 68 

Regan, Lancaster, 29 34 

McCoach, Shenand'h, Potts., 47 57 

Pitz, Hazleton, 13 8 



E. 


Ave. 


67 


.873 


63 


.871 


32 


.833 


12 


.828 


74 


.819 


67 


.818 


21 


.787 


3 


.945 


4 


.937 


16 


.934 


17 


,922 


15 


.917 


18 


.916 


9 


.909 


19 


.904 


20 


.903 


6 


.901 


17 


.899 


4 


.897 


11 


.892 


7 


.888 


21 


.887 


9 


.875 


7 


.870 


35 


.867 


21 


.862 


17 


.860 


13 


.839 


11 


.755 


19 


.760 


4 


.666 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



259 



SOUTHERN League record for 

1895. 



The Southern League campaign of 1895 was not a 
financial success. During the season Memphis, Little 
Rock, and Mobile dropped out and the League fin- 
ished with five clubs. When the race ended Sept. 3, 
Atlanta had won the championship as per the ap- 
pended table : — 







6 


M 










^ 
§ 










'> 

> 
W 


1 

3 


6 
o 


i 


en 

•iH 

a 
1 


f2 

% 
1 


o 




1 


Atlanta, 




1) 


8 


17 


10 


8 


11 


7 


70 


.654 


Evansville, 


8 




6 


15 


12 


4 


9 


12 


66 


.635 


Little Kock,. . . 


1 


»> 
o 




5 


5 


6 


1 


4 


25 


.347 


Mobile, 


4 


2 


5 




9 


4 


5 


8 


37 


.370 


Montgomery,. . 


6 


5 


7 


6 




6 


3 


7 


40 


.364 


Memphis, 


3 


4 


5 


5 


7 




2 


6 


32 


.464. 


Nashville, 


8 


10 


8 


10 


16 


6 




11 


69 


.645 


New Orleans,.. 


7 


5 


8 


5 


11 


3 


7 




46 


.455 


Lost, 


37 


38 


47 


63 


70 


37 


38 


55 


385 





Summary. 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Atlanta, 70 37 .654 

Nashville, 69 38 .645 

Evansville,.... 66 38 .635 

Memphis, 32 37 .464 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

New Orleans , . . 46 55 . 455 

Mobile, 37 63 .370 

Montgomery, . . 40 70 . 364 

Little Rock, . . 25 47 .347 



Just before the season closed, however, President 
Nicklin threw a number of games out of the record 
because of illegality. But even under this ruling, 
Atlanta won the championship, for though the club 
appeared tied with Nashville with a percentage of 



260 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 

.669, yet the fractional division showed Atlanta to be 
ahead with .66999 to Nashville's .66998. Nashville 
however claimed not only the tie, but the champion- 
ship on the ground that the Atlanta-New Orleans 
game of Sept. 3 was illegal and could not count, thus 
making Nashville's percentage under President Nick- 
lin's table .670 to Atlanta's .667. At a special meet- 
ing of the Southern League held at Chattanooga, Sept. 
7,Nashville's claim was sustained and that club awarded 
the championship of 1895. The Atlanta club made 
an appeal at the annual meeting of the Southern 
League, but Nashville was again sustained and defi- 
nitely awarded the pennant. 



SOUTHERN LEAGUE AVERAGES FOR 1895. 



The official batting, fielding, and pitching averages 
of the Southern League for 1895, as compiled by 
President-Secretary Nicklin, are herewith given : — 



Individual Batting x\verages. 

R. Games. AB. R. H. Av. SH. SB. 

1 Whistler, C. & Mo., 71 267 72 108 .404 8 28 

2 Stafford, N. O., 76 299 83 115 .384 1 22 

3 Beard, E. , 84 ^72 93 140 .376 5 20 

4 Butler, Nashville,. . . 66 285 86 106 .371 2 34 
6 Frank, Memphis,.... 64 283 76 100 .353 3 17 

6 Ziminertnan, N. 0.,. 28 108 20 38 .351 7 

7 O'Meara, Memphis,.. 62 257 56 90 .350 11 

8 Burnett, E'ville,. . . . 84 318 110 111 .349 52 

9 Myers, Nashville,... 76 287 61 100 .348 1 19 

10 Stallings, Nashville,. 61 275 67 94 .341 29 

11 (C. McFarland, E.,.,. 77 364 149 124 .340 5 32 
^M Fields, Evansville,.. 84 350 76 119 .340 12 12 

12 Moran, Nashville,... 47 171 40 58 .339 3 8 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 261 



R. 




Games 


. AB. 


R. 


H. 


Av. 


SH. 


SB. 


13 


Sheehan, Little R'k, 


59 


242 


54 


82 


.338 





1 


14 


Callahan, Atlanta, . 


31 


102 


24 


34 


.333 


3 


3 


15 


Wiley, Little Rock,.. 


52 


214 


42 


71 


.331 


2 


15 




' Wilson, Atlanta, 


()0 


299 


53 


89 


.330 


8 


14 


10- 


Flood, Chat., Mo.,.. 


70 


281 


50 


93 


.330 


3 


14 




Clausen, Mont., . . . . 


31 


100 


25 


35 


.330 


1 


o 
»> 


17 


Knowles, Atlanta, . . 


94 


420 


115 


127 


.320 


18 


42 


18 


Armstrong, Atlanta, 


50 


228 


41 


74 


.824 


9 


11 


10. 


Flaherty, Memphis, 


05 


278 


72 


90 


.323 


2 


11 


Neal, Mont., 


28 


99 


12 


33 


.328 


3 





20 


Nie, N. L. &L. R.,.. 


40 


173 


30 


55 


.817 


2 


10 


21 


Goodenough, At' a,.. 


90 


405 


07 


130 


.320 


20 


80 




Dalyrymple, E'ville, 


48 


210 


47 


00 


.314 


5 


17 


22- 


Summer, Little R*k, 


20 


105 


14 


33 


.814 


1 


21 




Langsf'd,Mem.,Mo., 


51 


235 


42 


74 


.814 





12 


2a 


Burke, Evansville,.. 


75 


322 


00 


101 


.818 


7 


18 


Hess,N. 0., 


32 


134 


20 


42 


.313 


1 


9 


24 


Quigg, Memphis, 


17 


04 


13 


20 


.312 


3 


4 


25 


Wentz, Memphis, . . . 


05 


270 


41 


80 


.311 


1 


18 


20 


Gorman, L.R.,N'v'l., 


m 


290 


51 


90 


.310 


8 


8 


27 


Powell, N. 0., 


92 


380 


78 


119 


.308 


8 


45 


28. 


Wright, Memphis, 


58 


273 


73 


84 


.807 


5 


27 


[ Lawd, Memphis, 


30 


143 


28 


34 


.807 


1 


3 


29 


Dowie, N. 0., 


91 


382 


03 


110 


.303 


4 


28 


80 


York, N. 0., 


92 


390 


91 


118 


.302 


5 


37 


;u 


Friel, Atlanta, 


95 


400 


93 


120 


.800 


7 


30 




' Smith, Nashville, . . . 


50 


201 





00 


.298 


5 


7 




Smith, Memphis, 


59 


238 


03 


71 


.298 


2 


11 


82- 


Call, Little Rock, . . . 


40 


184 


30 


55 


.298 


7 


7 




Sulze, Little Rock,. . 


28 


104 


10 


31 


.298 


8 


4 




Sweeney, Nashville, . 


05 


202 


41 


78 


.297 


8 


5 


33 


Delehanty, Atlanta, 


95 


423 


100 


120 


.297 


8 


05 


34 


Morrison, Mont...... 


41 


170 


25 


52 


.295 


8 


4 


( 


'Fisher, Chat., Mo.,.. 


71 


200 


28 


75 


.288 


5 


7 


35 < 


1 Dexter, Evansville,.. 


41 


184 


37 


52 


.288 


1 


20 


{ 


' Trost, Nashville, 


05 


274 


53 


79 


.288 


8 


18 


30 


Burns, Chat., Mo., .. 


72 


277 


70 


79 


.285 


9 


21 




' Sommers,Chat., Mo., 


30 


110 


25 


33 


.284 


3 





37- 


Hobright, Little R'k, 


50 


232 


33 


00 


.284 





22 




^ Cleve, Nashville, 


75 


292 


78 


83 


.284 





22 


38 


McDade, A., 


93 


371 


59 


105 


.288 





15 


39 < 


; Horner, A., 

' Potts, Mob., 


21 


07 


13 


18 


.278 





1 


00 


219 


34 


01 


.278 


2 


5 


40 


Corcoran, Little R'k, 


25 


101 


17 


28 


.277 


8 


5 


41 < 


; Kehoe,Mont., 

' Russell, Mob., 


50 


239 


34 


00 


.270 


1 


5 


51 


200 


45 


57 


.270 


5 


10 


42 


McCormack, N. O.,.. 


89 


343 


50 


94 


.274 


4 


34 



262 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



R. Games. AB. R. 

40 j Hill, Mobile, 37 189 L3 

^^ I Norton, Atlanta, ... 22 88 15 

4, j Mills, E., 77 383 107 

^^)Carl, N. O., 40 133 18 

(Ryan, E., 88 371 m 

45 ^ Ely, N. O. and Mob., 26 89 9 
(Smith, N. O., 34 115 18 

46 Eitz, Nashville, 50 190 31 

47 Dobbs, Mobile, 17 71 7 

48 O'Neal, Mont., 49 201 39 

49 Mason, E., 27 92 13 

50 Peoples, Mont. , 57 231 30 

51 Keenan, Chat. , 10 35 6 

52 Sechrist, Chat.,N.O., 21 68 8 

53 Dolan, L. R. , 56 236 33 

54 Blackburn, E. , 48 190 43 

55 Lynch, Nashville,... 36 129 19 

56 Bennett, N. 0. , 23 85 13 

57 Buschman, Chat.,... 42 158 21 

58 Gillen, Memphis,.... 27 102 11 

59 Wood, Atlanta, 25 90 17 

60 Knoll, Little Rock,... 49 198 38 
^. ( D. McEarland, E.,.. 33 120 18 
"^ 1 Herman, Nashville,.. 24 58 18 
62 Gouding, N. O. , 88 320 48 

(Smith, A., 96 367 60 

63^Eifield, L. R., 43 156 17 

(Bramcote, N. O...... 27 101 9 

64 Briggs, L. R., 31 94 14 

65 Horning, A., 92 373 64 

m Morse, L. R., 20 78 7 

67 Crimmin,L. R., 13 44 3 

68 Armour, Mont. , 60 225 42 

69 Egan, N. O., 16 68 * 9 

70 Honey cutt, N. O.,... 27 101 11 

71 Peitz, Montgomery,.. 23 88 14 

72 Phelan, Mobile, 57 223 30 

70 j Bailey, Montgomery, 27 81 11 

'"^IRappold, Mont., 49 167 22 

74 Daniels, Nashville, . . 20 63 10 

75 Burrell, Memphis,... 27 91 19 

76 A.Mcrar'd,M.,L.R., 32 127 10 

77 Hayes, Montgomery, 37 123 12 

78 Ossenberg, Memphis, 10 37 2 

79 Braun, N. 0., E.,... 19 44 1 

80 C.Hahn, Mobile,.... 11 40 4 

81 F.Hahn, Mobile,.... 21 78 8 



H. 


Av. 


SH. 


SB. 


38 


.273 


3 


5 


24 


.273 


1 


3 


99 


.270 


5 


48 


35 


.270 


2 


2 


100 


.269 


7 


13 


24 


.269 


2 


2 


31 


.269 


2 


8 


51 


.268 


6 


11 


19 


.267 








54 


.263 


9 


5 


24 


.260 





7 


60 


.259 


4 


4 


9 


.257 


3 





17 


.255 


2 


1 


60 


.254 


4 


7 


48 


.252 


7 


7 


32 


.248 





3 


21 


.247 





5 


39 


.246 


3 


13 


25 


.245 


6 


4 


22 


.244 


1 


4 


48 


.242 


8 


10 


29 


.241 





8 


14 


.241 


2 


1 


77 


.240 





30 


87 


.237 


17 


12 


37 


.237 


8 


3 


24 


.237 


1 


8 


22 


.234 





2 


87 


.283 


15 


19 


18 


.280 


2 





10 


.227 


2 


1 


50 


.222 


2 


15 


15 


.220 


3 


6 


22 


.217 


1 


3 


19 


.215 


8 


4 


48 


.210 


6 


8 


17 


.209 


2 





35 


.209 


4 


6 


18 


.206 





2 


10 


.197 


2 





24 


.187 


3 


6 


22 


.178 


4 


2 


6 


.162 








6 


.136 


1 





5 


.125 








6 


.076 





1 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



263 



Individual Fielding Averages, 
catchers. 

R. Games. PO. A. E. PB. 

1 O'Meara,.... 62 287 47 7 17 

2 Wilson, 60 270 54 8 14 

3 Gonding,.... 88 731 94 14 21 

4 Corcoran,... 25 126 32 6 7 

5 Armstrong,.. 50 207 45 10 8 

6 Trost, 65 376 39 21 26 

7 Rappold,.... 49 240 50 16 20 

8 Fields, 84 289 73 24 26 

9 Fisher, 71 249 60 23 23 

10 Nie, 46 156 40 17 16 

11 Kehoe, 56 163 56 22 9 

12 Land, 36 34 45 10 2 

FIRST BASEMEN. 

R. Games. PO. A. E. 

1 Ryan, 88 916 44 14 

2 Whistler, 71 598 23 15 

3 Knowles, 94 901 76 25 

4 Stafford, 76 599 59 18 

5 Smith, 59 515 30 22 

6 Sweeney, 65 387 57 19 

7 Stallings, 61 346 27 17 

8 Wiley, 52 419 29 24 

9 Peitz, 23 226 9 13 

10 Bramcote, 27 175 8 18 

SECOND BASEMEN. 

1 Phelan, .^ 67 144 175 18 

2 Delehanty, 95 296 304 32 

3 Mills, 77 214 198 29 

4 Wentz, 65 215 197 32 

5 Smith, 50 118 134 22 

6 McCormack, 89 222 295 49 

7 O'Neil, 49 158 147 30 

8 Cull, 46 158 148 32 

9 Egan, 16 51 59 20 

THIRD BASEMEN. 

1 Burke, 75 121 159 23 

2 Buschman, 42 77 85 16 

3 Dowie, 91 151 246 45 

4 McDade, 93 140 226 47 



Ch's. 


Ave. 


341 


.979 


332 


.975 


479 


.970 


164 


.963 


262 


.961 


436 


.951 


306 


.947 


386 


.937 


332 


.930 


213 


.920 


241 


.908 


89 


.887 


T'lch's. 


Ave. 


974 


.985 


636 


.976 


1002 


.975 


676 


.973 


567 


.961 


463 


.958 


390 


.956 


472 


.949 


248 


.947 


201 


.910 


337 


.946 


638 


.940 


441 


.934 


444 


.927 


274 


.919 


566 


.911 


335 


.910 


338 


.905 


130 


.846 


303 


.924 


178 


.910 


442 


.898 


413 


.886 



264 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



R. Games. PO. A. 

6 Flaherty, 65 115 160 

6 Morrison, 41 60 97 

7 Meyers 76 130 166 

8 Gorman, m 82 52 

SHORTSTOPS. 

1 Beard, 84 167 369 

2 Peoples, 57 109 185 

3 Smith, 96 188 360 

4 Ritz, 50 79 153 

5 Burns, 72 186 265 

6 Lynch, 36 72 107 

7 Dolan,.... 56 86 128 

8 Zimmerman, 28 53 107 

9 Langsford, 51 88 149 

LEFT FIELDERS. 

1 Powell, 92 204 22 

2 Butler, 66 116 14 

3 Priel, 95 164 17 

4 Dexter, 41 74 19 

5 Potts, 66 140 14 

6 Hayes, 37 64 17 

7 Hobright, 56 103 11 

8 Frank, 64 149 25 

CENTER FIELDERS. 

1 McCann, 29 68 5 

2 Wright, 58 151 28 

3 York, 92 189 11 

4 McFarland, 77 172 12 

5 Goodenough, 96 214 23 

6 Sheehan, 59 129 9 

7 Armour, 60 103 18 

8 Russell, 51 103 41 

RIGHT FIELDERS. 

1 Honeycutt, 27 158 9 

2 Briggs, 31 25 46 

3 Hess, 32 55 32 

4 A. McFarland,. ... 32 104 14 

5 Horning, 92 108 17 

6 Cleve, 75 116 12 

7 Burnett, 84 142 41 

8 Flood, 70 153 31 



E. 


T'lch's. 


Ave. 


37 


312 


.881 


24 


181 


.867 


49 


345 


.857 


42 


276 


.847 


42 


578 


.927 


26 


320 


.918 


51 


599 


.913 


35 


267 


.867 


71 


522 


.863 


29 


208 


.860 


36 


250 


.856 


27 


187 


.855 


43 


280 


.846 


12 


238 


.949 


8 


138 


.942 


13 


194 


.933 


17 


100 


.930 


14 


168 


.916 


8 


89 


.910 


12 


126 


.904 


19 


193 


.901 


3 


76 


.960 


12 


191 


.937 


14 


238 


.934 


14 


198 


.929 


19 


256 


.925 


12 


150 


.920 


13 


134 


.903 


27 


171 


.842 


9 


176 


.948 


4 


75 


.946 


5 


92 


.945 


7 


125 


944 


8 


133 


.939 


9 


137 


.934 


18 


201 


.910 


28 


212 


.867 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



265 



-M O 

el's 



eOCiiOT-iOOSCOOCNiOCOCOCOOCtOiOt-OOCOxOOOCOTiHiMTj^t-C^t- 
b-»O"^CO00C0T-^C^COC''3Ttl|>-CO»OCOCO'VCt--»OC0THCOO5tr-iOC<lT--lCO 



t-oscMrt^ocooJi-icocicscqiot-oociot-iortHT-icriiOcocoi-iiOr-io 

1— fr-lT-(T— (r-(rHr-(C^T-S r-<rHrHr-(i— 1 r- 1 



ir:(Ncot>-ot>-cocO''i<x>iot-coOTHoo»ocot'"«*"*THC:Tji(Nrcoo<M,-( 



CCi-l'«*<-^000(Mr-lOTHOlOCOC<lt-OCOC:cOrH^t-i-!t«-t^OQO"*ai 






t-a5iH«00(M»0»0(MO^COCOt>-COQOa500r-iCOThlTHClOiC^Tj<C5CPTH 
^ "*"^»0>0X)*^C0C0tT-t-l>.t>.t-Q0Q0G0ai0iai02CDOOOrHT-iC^-^;0 

^ c^^(^^c^(^^G^^<^^(^^<^lC<^c<^c^^c<^(^^c^^(^^c<^c^c^^^c^1<^^cocococococoe^co 



W-cs 



0(MCOOOC^OOQOC<»Ot-THt-»0(MiiOait-t^Ot-CO'-!C^I(Mi-i'<#COQO 
<N(MT-lr-lcq(MCC C<lTHr-lC^lrH(N(Mi-lTH(MTHT-(i-IC^4<MC0<Mi-lTH<Ni-^ 






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C0OlOCi<MOl-C^ltHrH(Mr-iC0TtlK'DOrtH(MrH00»0e0i-lOrtH05C0C0b- 

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CO "* o 



366 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



VIRGINIA League Record for 

1895. 



One of the most prosperous and one of the best 
handled little leagues last season was the Virginia 
League, which went through its second annual cam- 
paign without a break or hitch. Fine ball was played 
and a number of good ball players were developed. 
Richmond won the championship. Lynchburg, Nor- 
folk, Portsmouth, Petersburg, and Roanoke followed in 
the order named. No official averages of this league 
have been compiled. Following is the complete record 
for the season of 1895 : — 



Lynchburg^. 

Norfolk, 

Petersburg,. 
Portsmouth, 
Richmond, . , 

Roanoke, 

Lost, 



o 



6 
11 
12 
13 
10 
62 



11 

10 
17 
12 
11 
61 



u 


•ts 






^ 


o 


rn 


a 


t-4 


cc 


<v 


+J 


+3 


u 


<D 


O 


Ph 


Ah 



18 
16 

8 
17 
11 

69 



16 
11 
16 

16 
10 

68 



14 
9 
6 
6 

10 
46 



8 
16 
13 
14 
20 

70 



67 
66 
65 
67 
78 
62 
366 



.663 
.479 
.444 
.466 
.634 
.426 



Summary. 





Won. 


Lost. 


Pet. 




Won. 


Lost. 


Pet. 


Richmond, . . 


..78 


46 


.634 


Portsmouth, 


..67 


68 


.466 


Lynchburg, . 


...67 


62 


.663 


Petersburg,. . 


..66 


69 


.444 


Norfolk, 


..66 


61 


.479 


Roanoke,... 


...62 


70 


,426 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 267 



TEXAS League Record for 

1895. 

The Texas League last season had a double cham- 
pionship season. The first season ended June 23, 
when the record stood: — 

Clubs. Played. Won. Lost. Pet. 

Dallas, 57 48 14 .752 

Shreveport, 60 43 17 .722 

Fort Worth, 56 32 24 .583 

Galveston, 57 32 25 .576 

Sherman 59 28 31 .476 

Houston, 56 21 35 .378 

Austin, 57 19 38 ,333 

San Antonio, 59 11 48 .186 

In the second season four clubs dropped out. The 
four remaining clubs finished in this order Sept. 2: — 

Clubs. Played. Won. Lost. Pet. 

Fort Worth, 60 45 15 .750 

Dallas, 58 39 19 .672 

Galveston, 62 40 22 .641 

Sherman, 58 26 32 .449 

During the entire season the total number of games 
won and lost by each club were : — 

Clubs. Played. Won. Lost. Pet. 

Dallas,...., 115 82 33 .734 

Fort Worth, 116 77 39 .689 

Galveston, 119 72 47 .644 

Shreveport, 95 59 36 .620 

Sherman, 117 54 63 .481 

Austin, 95 32 63 .337 

Houston, 91 26 65 .286 

San Antonio, 93 21 72 .206 



TEXAS LEAGUE AVERAGES FOR 1895. 



Following are the official batting and fielding aver- 
ages of the Texas League for 1895, as compiled by 
Secretary J. C. Nolan: — 



268 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Club Batting Averages. 

Clubs. Games. AB. R. 

Dallas 115 4447 1149 

Fort Worth, 116 4262 1031 

Sherman, 116 4070 816 

Shreveport, 94 3334 681 

Galveston, 119 4133 816 

Houston, 91 3205 601 

Austin, 95 3590 6m 

San Antonio, 93 3515 697 

Club Fielding Averager. 

Clubs. Games. PO. A. E. 

Dallas, 115 3051 1432 300 

Fort Worth, 116 3053 1302 370 

Galveston, 119 3086 1572 416 

Shreveport, 94 2392 1144 334 

Sherman, 117 3077 1543 423 

Houston, 91 2470 1068 440 

Austin, 95 2427 1068 435 

San Antonio, 93 2416 1218 . 475 

Individual Batting Averages. 

R. Players. Games. AB. R. 

1 McBride, Austin, 94 419 138 

2 Chiles, Galveston, 33 152 51 

3 Thornton, Dallas, 50 259 81 

4 Boyle, Dallas, 108 403 147 

5 Kemmer, Shreveport,... 43 175 55 

6 Isaacs, Houston, 22 89 9 

7 Reilley, Fort Worth,... 116 520 141 

8 Killacky, Dallas, 114 525 151 

9 Pickering, Houston,.... 56 249 72 

10 Badger, Galveston 107 445 108 

1 1 Elsey , Fort Worth, .... 112 433 117 
-,;. ( O'Connor. Sher., Dal.,.. 115 465 148 
^"^ \ Clifford, Shreveport,. . . . 28 113 39 

14 Miller, San Antonio,. . . 55 231 43 

15 Keefe, Shreveport, Gal., 105 474 105 

16 Work, Galveston, 87 320 59 

17 Woodruff, Dallas, 19 73 18 

TO ( Meyers, Shre., Gal.,.. . . Ill 477 86 

^^ ) Bastian, Dallas, 106 450 138 

,.p. i McAllister, Ft. Worth,. 103 460 127 

^" \ Bristow, Galveston,.. . . 89 305 93 

22 Sunday, Fort Worth,.. 25 100 16 

23 C.Douglas, Sherman,.. 116 490 97 

24 McFarland, Ft. Worth, 93 367 78 



H. 


Ave. 


1380 


.310 


1277 


.300 


1185 


.291 


964 


.289 


1143 


.276 


875 


.273 


975 


.272 


886 


.252 


T'lCh's. 


Ave. 


4783 


.940 


4725 


.922 


5074 


.919 


3870 


.914 


5043 


.907 


3970 


.892 


3930 


.890 


4109 


.885 


H. 


Ave. 


186 


.444 


68 


.441 


105 


.440 


177 


.432 


71 


.406 


34 


.382 


195 


.375 


197 


.373 


90 


.372 


165 


.370 


155 


.358 


166 


.353 


42 


.353 


81 


.350 


165 


.348 


110 


.347 


25 


.345 


163 


.342 


154 


.342 


157 


.341 


104 


.341 


34 


.340 


166 


.338 


124 


.337 



25) |a 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 269 

R. Players. Games. AB. R. IT. Ave. 

Fabian, Dallas, 106 435 109 145 . 333 

Mackey, Ft. Worth, 63 261 69 87 .333 

27 ' Blakey, Galveston, , . . . 116 450 110 148 .328 

28 Watkins, San Antonio, 23 95 12 31 .325 

,.,. ( Hodge, Dallas, 1 15 485 167 157 .324 

"^•^ ] Garcia, San Antonio, . . 28 111 13 36 .324 

31 Schmidt, San Antonio,. 17 68 17 22 .323 

32 Page, Galveston, 105 423 88 136 .321 

33 Lawrence, Ft. Worth,.. 55 228 50 73 .320 

34 Smith, Houston, 35 142 26 45 .316 

(Ashenback, Dallas,.... 115 486 106. 152 .813 

35 ? Gates, Gal., Hous., 80 329 81 103 .313 

( Weikart, Austin, 25 96 15 30 .313 

38 Wickhizer, Sherman, , . 10 45 12 14 .311 

39 Webber, Shreveport,... 68 306 58 95 .310 

40 Jantzen, Ft. Worth,.... 55 242 55 74 .306 
,. j W.Douglas, Sherman.. 108 462 95 141 .305 
^^ \ Abbott, San Antonio,. . 79 357 69 108 .305 

43 Oswald, Sherman, 112 440 120 133 .302 

44 Miles, Houston, 59 261 58 78 .299 

45 Brott, Sherman, 18 68 10 20 .296 

Matthews, Houston, .. . 74 274 47 81 .295 

Feehan, Gal., Austin,.. 65 234 68 69 .295 

. j> ( Gilman, Dallas, 52 228 59 68 .293 

^^ I Denger, Sherman, 40 160 30 46 .293 

(McGowan, Houston,... 75 300 6b 83 .291 

50 ^Mulkey, San Antonio,.. 28 94 17 28 .291 

/ Whiting, Houston, 17 65 15 19 .291 

o ( Dawkins, Houston,. ... 67 290 47 84 .289 

"^'^ } Shachern, Austin, 22 77 22 22 ,286 

57 Driscoll, Sher.,Dal.,... 113 500 84 142 .284 

58 Lemon, San Antonio,.. 78 303 58 86 .283 
.o J Weckbecker, Slire,Gal., Ill 443 103 125 .282 
^^ } Sherry, Aus., S. A.,.. . . 55 255 37 72 .282 

61 Davis, Austin, 57 224 43 63 .281 

62 Bammert, Shrev., Gal., Ill 482 110 134 .278 
^oJBroderick, Sher.,Gal.,. 80 325 83 90 .277 
;) Hoffman, Ft. Worth, . . 15 45 5 13 .277 
66 Maloney, Sherman,.... 57 212 43 57 .274 

66 Cook, Shreveport, 77 304 36 83 .273 

67 Land, San Antonio,.... 32 136 24 37 .272 
' Jacks, Austin, 93 391 91 106 .271 

.>j. J Krehmeyer, Houston,.. 84 361 58 98 .271 

^^ j Rivas, Houston, 75 321 57 87 .271 

Gates, Austin, 10 48 3 13 .271 



"'I 



^'" ^ Alexander, Shreveport, 11 38 8 11 .289 

Nance, Sherman, 110 468 68 134 .286 



270 THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



R. Players. Games. 

72 Lewis, Austin, 50 

73 Riickel, San Antonio, ... 23 

74 Kaymer, San Antonio, . 30 

75 Holmes, Austin, 24 

76 T. Flanagan, Ft. W'r'li, 87 

77 Kleeman, Austin, 65 

78 Phelan, San Antonio,.. 14 
yo ( Reese, Austin, 93 

\ Graney, San Antonio,.. 85 

81 Keyes, Sherman, 106 

( Stanley, Ft. Worth,.. . . 101 

82 ] Watkins, Galveston, ... 87 
( Graham, Shreveport,... 13 

85 McMackin, Dallas, 55 

86 Van Dresser, S. An'o,.. 106 

87 Davis, Sherman, 12 

88 McFadden, Sherman, . . 29 

89 St. Clair, Aus. , Gal. , . . . 93 

90 Steinhoff, F. Worth, ... 70 
Qi j Behan, Sherman, 34 

} Allen, Austin, 31 

( Gilpatrick, Sherman, . . 48 

93 ] Woodcock, F. Worth, . 47 

( Dolan, San Antonio, . . 19 

0^ j Mackey, Shre'p't, Dal., 44 

^ I M. McCormick, Hous., 21 

98 Kling, San Antonio,. . . 40 

99 McCoy, Shre'p't, Gal , 65 

100 Cox, Galveston, 84 

101 Hardy, Houston, 40 

102 W. McCormack, Hon., 38 
( Sullivan, Shreveport,.. 39 

103 J H. Flanagan, F. W'th, 18 
( Flynn, Houston, 10 

106 Kiernan, Austin, 51 

107 Dean, Galveston, 87 

-, f^o ( Clark, Dallas, 65 

^""^ \ Chamberlain, S. An'o., 54 

110 Bouchers, Aus., Hou., 29 

m ( Foreith, Gal., Aus.,. . . 85 

^^^ ] McKenzie, Shrevep't,.. 58 

113 Gatewood, Sherman,.. 30 

114 Ransom, Shreveport,.. 21 

115 Hughes, San Antonio, '69 

116 Quigg, Austin, 10 

117 Lucas, Fort Worth, ... 15 

118 Steinf el t, Houston,.... (56 



AB. 


R. 


H. 


Ave. 


223 


20 


60 


.269 


94 


15 


25 


.266 


98 


13 


26 


.265 


95 


14 


25 


.263 


349 


58 


91 


.261 


290 


64 


75 


.269 


60 


12 


16 


.256 


400 


68 


102 


.255 


377 


75 


96 


.255 


407 


55 


103 


.253 


372 


64 


93 


.250 


356 


60 


89 


.250 


48 


3 


12 


.250 


189 


33 


47 


.249 


439 


83 


109 


.248 


37 


3 


9 


.243 


118 


25 


28 


.237 


384 


60 


90 


.234 


232 


68 


54 


.233 


125 


20 


29 


.232 


127 


24 


29 


.232 


176 


30 


42 


.231 


182 


'29 


42 


.231 


76 


13 


18 


.231 


152 


34 


35 


.230 


87 


20 


21 


.230 


155 


24 


33 


.224 


221 


44 


55 


.219 


320 


35 


70 


.218 


150 


18 


34 


.216 


146 


22 


30 


.203 


150 


18 


30 


.200 


70 


14 


14 


.200 


54 


8 


11 


.200 


206 


28 


41 


.199 


318 


53 


63 


.198 


235 


36 


46 


.196 


204 


19 


40 


.196 


113 


32 


22 


.194 


306 


51 


59 


.193 


290 


39 


56 


.193 


126 


23 


24 


.190 


75 


15 


19 


.188 


230 


21 


43 


.187 


27 


5 


6 


.185 


60 


6 


11 


.183 


268 


33 


50 


.181 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



271 



R. Players. 




Games. 


AB. 


R. 


H. 


Ave. 


119 Anderson, Houston, 




15 


55 


7 


9 


.164 


120 Lonfflev. Austin 




20 


76 


\) 


12 


.158 


121 Garvin, Sherman, . . . 




35 


141 


16 


20 


.143 


122 Brigance, Austin, . . 




20 


64 


6 


9 


.141 


123 Kundell, Austin,.. . . 




11 


40 


3 


5 


.125 


Individual Fie 


LDING 


Averages. 










PITCHERS. 










Names. 


Games. 


PO. 


A. 


E. 


T'l Ch's. 


WP. 


Ave. 


Woodruff, Dallas, 


11 


2 


25 





27 


3 


1.000 


Dolan, S. An'o,... 


13 


4 


33 





37 


11 


1.000 


Clark, Dallas, 


41 


6 


30 


1 


37 


13 


.973 


Garvin, Sherman, 


33 


10 


115 


4 


129 


16 


.969 


Page. Galveston,.. 


40 


31 


83 


4 


118 


8 


.966 


McFarland,F.W., 


46 


37 


120 


6 


163 


8 


.964 


McAllister, F.W., 


31 


19 


78 


4 


101 


9 


.959 


Bristow, Gal.,.. . . 


48 


15 


147 


9 


171 


11 


.048 


McMackin, Dal.,.. 


41 


7 


88 


6 


101 


2 


.939 


Rundell, Austin,.. 


11 





15 


1 


16 


8 


.937 


ChamberPn, S.A., 


31 


14 


95 


7 


116 


19 


.932 


Keefe, Shrevep't, . 


41 


14 


91 


8 


113 


13 


.930 


McCoy, Shrevep't, 


34 


6 


87 


7 


100 


12 


.930 


lluckel, S. An'o,.. 


10 


2 


38 


3 


43 


10 


.930 


Whiting, Houst'n, 


10 


3 


23 


2 


28 


6 


.930 


W McCorm'k,H., 


27 


12 


50 


5 


67 


11 


.924 


Gilpatrick, Sher.,. 


33 


16 


87 


9 


112 


7 


.920 


Mackey, S., D.,... 


39 


11 


76 


8 


95 


12 


.916 


Hardy, Houston,.. 


37 


7 


85 


9 


101 


14 


.911 


Cox, Galveston, . . 


11 


5 


26 


3 


34 


2 


.891 


Mulkey, S. An'o,., 


18 


4 


36 


5 


45 


10 


.889 


Weber, Shrevep't, 


11 


9 


39 


6 


54 


5 


.885 


Maloney, Sher.,. . 


37 


18 


76 


12 


105 


13 


.860 


Fernandez, F.W., 


13 


4 


12 


3 


19 


9 


.851 


Feehan,Gal.,Aus., 


33 


15 


71 


14 


100 


16 


.850 


Brigance, Austin,. 


12 


4 


25 


5 


34 


11 


.839 


Longley, Austin,.. 


19 


5 


48 


14 


67 


13 


.789 


Isaacs, Houston, . . 


14 





36 


12 


48 


15 


.750 






CATCHERS. 










Names. 


Games. 


PO. 


A. 


E. 


T'l Ch's. 


PB. 


Ave. 


W. Douglas, Rh'r,. 


77 


422 


102 


14 


538 


22 


.974 


Stanley, F.W.,... 


101 


537 


107 


19 


663 


31 


.972 


Hodge, Dallas,.... 


111 


427 


124 


17 


568 


12 


.971 


Schachern, Aus.,.. 


22 


108 


28 


5 


141 


10 


.959 


Denger, Sherman, 


27 


139 


36 


9 


184 


9 


.952 


Matthew, Hout'n, 


54 


268 


71 


19 


358 


29 


.947 


McAllister, F,W., 


15 


08 


11 


5 


84 


IL 


.941 



272 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Names. 
Miller, S. Ant'o,.. 

Badger, Gal., 

Clifford, Shreve.,.. 
Land, S. Antonio, 
Weckbecker, S't,. 
M. McCorm'k,H., 
Foreith, Gal., A.,.. 
Dean, Galveston,. 
Hughes, S. Ant'o, 
McGowan, Ho'n,.. 



Games. PO. 
12 56 



85 
15 
10 
69 
21 
69 
21 
54 
17 



316 

83 

36 

305 

109 

291 

87 

247 

83 



A. 

16 
73 
12 
12 
69 
18 
60 
18 
46 
12 



E. T'lCli's. PB. 



5 
28 
7 
4 
34 
12 
35 
11 
32 
11 



76 
417 
102 

52 
407 
139 
386 
116 
325 
106 



26 
5 
8 

18 
5 
37 
19 
23 
10 



Ave. 
.935 
.933 
.928 
.927 
.917 
.9i4 
.910 
,906 
.902 
.897 



FIRST BASEMEN. 



Names. 
Graney, San Antonio, 

Killackey, Dallas, 

Thornton, Dallas, 

Meyers, Shrevep't, G., 

Badger, Galveston, 

O'Connor, Dallas, 

C. Douglas, Sherman,. 
Jantzen, Ft. Worth, . . 
Krehmey er, Houston, . 
Land, San Antonio,... 
St. Clair, Aus., Gal.,.. 
Elsey, Fort Worth, . . . 
Work, Galveston,. .... 
McFadden, Sherman,. 
Sherry, San Antonio, . 

Davis, Austin 

Sunday, Ft. Worth,... 
Foreith, Gal., Austin, 



Games. 

17 

28 

50 
111 
111 

36 

74 

-56 

84 

20 

71 

48 

37 

25 

28 

42 

10 

10 



PO. 

169 
305 
500 
1218 
104 
331 
816 
543 
842 
179 
656 
446 
322 
282 
275 
403 
85 
80 



8 
16 
31 

4 
14 
25 
16 
23 

4 
21 
24 
13 
11 

7 
16 

5 

4 



E, 

2 

4 

14 

•JO 

3 
10 
28 
19 
30 

7 
27 
21 
15 
13 
13 
21 



T»i C'hs. 
179 
317 
530 
1282 
111 
355 
869 
548 
895 
190 
647 
491 
350 
306 
295 
440 
101 
92 



Ave. 

.989 
.988 
.978 
.975 
.973 
.972 
.968 
.968 
.967 
.964 
.962 
.958 
.958 
.958 
.956 
.953 
.918 
.913 



SECOND BASE3IEX. 

Behan, Sherman, 11 27 22 3 52 .941 

Gilman, Dallas, 52 178 137 23 338 .931 

T. Flanagan, Ft. W'th, 36 90 87 15 191 .922 

Page, Galveston, 20 62 53 10 125 .920 

Weber, Shreveport,... 15 35 46 5 86 .920 

Kieman, Austin, 52 169 160 29 358 .919 

St. Clair, Aus., Gal.,.. 14 44 25 6 75 .917 

Driscoll, Sher.,Dal.,.. 113 304 227 59 680 .914 

Sherry, Austin, 19 66 46 10 121 .912 

Pickering, Houston,... 10 30 26 7 63 .909 

McGowan, Houston,... 11 29 21 5 55 .909 

Weikart, Austin, 19 61 44 11 116 .906 

Steinhoff. Ft. Worth,.. 70 168 150 34 352 .904 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



273 



Names. 


Games. 


PO. 


A. 


E. 


T'l C'hs. 


Ave. 


Van Dresser, S. An'o,. 


10 


36 


29 


7 


72 


.901 


Lemon, San Antonio,. 


64 


171 


155 


39 


360 


.894 


Chiles, Galveston, 


31 


104 


83 


23 


210 


.891 


Weckbecker, Sh're.,G, 


40 


117 


93 


26 


236 


.890 


Smith, Houston, 


30 


70 


68 


19 


167 


.879 


Ransom, Shreveport,.. 


21 


47 


46 


13 


106 


.878 


Steinf eldt, Houston, . . 


11 


36 


34 


10 


80 


.875 


Broderick, Gal., 


18 


42 


44 


15 


101 


.859 


Bristow, Galveston,. . . 


15 


32 


35 


11 


78 


.869 


Miles, Houston, 


16 


30 


22 


11 


63 


.833 


Gates, Gal. , Houston, . 


13 


39 


18 


12 


69 


.825 


Graney, San Antonio,. 


19 


73 


40 


26 


129 


.799 




THIRD 


BASEMEN. 








Blakey, Galveston, . . . 


116 


215 


416 


58 


686 


.916 


Reilley, Ft. Worth,... 


116 


220 


328 


53 


601 


.912 


Boyle, Dallas, 


109 


224 


325 


57 


606 


.903 


Van Dresser, S. An'o, 


22 


43 


57 


13 


113 


.888 


O'Connor, Sher., D.,.. 


37 


48 


90 


18 


156 


.885 


Kemmer, Shreveport,. 


43 


72 


59 


27 


178 


.849 


Kleeman, Austin, 


58 


109 


172 


55 


336 


.837 


Keyes, Sherman, 


27 


28 


53 


17 


98 


.833 


Abbott, San Antonio,. 


40 


69 


113 


37 


219 


.832 


Gate wood, Sherman,.. 


23 


40 


52 


14 


111 


.829 


McKenzie, Shreveport, 


96 


79 


88 


40 


207 


.809 


Dav^kins, Houston, . . . 


65 


110 


152 


64 


326 


.805 


Graney, San Antonio,. 


35 


63 


81 


36 


179 


.806 


Allen, Austin, 


10 


17 


26 


16 


58 


.742 




SHORTSTOPS 


i. 








Bastian, Dallas, 


94 


183 


351 


51 


675 


.912 


Bammert, Shre., Gal., 


110 


222 


429 


64 


716 


.911 


Oswald, Sherman, 


108 


190 


389 


69 


648 


,894 


Watkins, Galveston, . . 


88 


200 


261 


58 


519 


.890 


McAllister, Ft. Worth, 


16 


28 


56 


13 


97 


.866 


Pickering, Houston,... 


15 


31 


60 


16 


107 


.853 


Abbott, San Antonio,. 


12 


23 


28 


9 


60 


.850 


Broderick, Sher., Gal., 


12 


24 


31 


10 


65 


.845 


T. Flanagan, Ft.W'th, 


51 


60 


125 


48 


273 


.826 


Steinf eldt, Houston, . . , 


48 


80 


166 


55 


301 


.818 


Van Dresser, S. Ant'o, 


60 


105 


201 


57 


306 


.814 


Reese, Austin, 


93 


118 


272 


100 


490 


.796 


Gates, Gal., Houston,. 


11 


19 


35 


18 


72 


.750 


Boucher, Houston,.. . . 


16 


27 


40 


25 


92 


.728 


H. Flanagan, F. W'th, 


13 


6 


27 


14 


47 


.703 


Flynn, Houston, 


10 


14 


22 


18 


64 


.667 



274 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



OUTFIELDERS. 

Names. Games. PO. 

Ashenback, Dallas,. . . 115 248 

Graham, Shreveport,.. 11 26 

McAllister, Ft. Worth, 43 63 

O'Connor, Sher., D.,.. 20 36 

Page, Galveston, 48 89 

Van Dresser, S. An'o, 14 17 

Dean, Galveston, 63 138 

Behan, Sherman, 19 19 

McBride, Austin, 89 226 

Lawrence, F. Worth,.. 49 106 

Clifford, Shreveport,... 16 27 

Work, Galveston, 60 107 

Nance, Sherman, 101 203 

Pickering, Houston,.. . 31 81 

Webber, Shreveport,.. 33 63 

Killackey, Dallas, .... 80 162 

Woodcock, Ft. Worth, 37 61 

Fabian, Dallas, 106 158 

Eivas, Houston, 75 199 

McCoy, Shrev't, Gal., 23 43 

Mackey , Ft. Worth, ... 61 99 

Broderick, Sher., G.,.. 50 84 

Bristow, Galveston,. . . 24 33 

Keyes, Sherman, 77 97 

Lewis, Austin, 27 31 

Mulkey, San Antonio, 10 7 

McFarland, F. Worth, 50 67 

Kling, San Antonio, . . 40 64 

Schmidt, San Antonio, 13 30 

Miller, San Antonio,.. 43 55 

C. Douglas, Sherman,. 33 42 

Cook, Shreveport, 59 100 

Abbott, San Antonio,. 22 43 

Keef e, Shre. , Gal. , . . . . 64 74 

Cox, Galveston, 68 122 

Matthews, Houston, . . 26 34 

Sullivan, Shreveport,. 37 51 

Bouchers, Houston,... 15 34 

Garcia, San Antonio, . 28 50 

Sunday, Ft. Worth, . . . 15 19 

Gilpatrick, Sherman,.. 14 16 

McGowan, Houston,.. 37 86 

Jacks, Austin, 89 174 

Feehan, Gal., Austin,. 28 29 

Holmes, Austin, 16 10 

Gates, Gal., Houston,. 57 69 



A. 

20 

1 
11 

7 
11 

4 
21 


35 

7 

3 

9 
24 

n 

10 

16 

3 

28 

25 

4 

5 

10 

3 

15 
3 
1 

12 

11 

1 

5 

10 

10 

6 

13 

12 

4 

7 

3 

12 

5 

2 

6 

19 

8 



5 



E. T'l C'hs. 
6 274 



1 
3 
2 
5 
1 
8 
1 

15 
7 
2 
9 

20 
8 
7 

15 
6 

18 

28 
5 

11 

10 
4 

13 
4 
1 

10 

10 
4 
8 
7 

15 
7 

13 

25 
6 
9 
6 

10 
4 
3 

17 

36 
7 
2 

16 



28 

77 

46 

104 

22 

167 

20 

276 

120 

32 

126 

247 

100 

80 

183 

70 

204 

251 

52 

115 

104 

40 

125 

38 

9 

89 

85 

35 

68 

69 

125 

56 

100 

159 

44 

67 

43 

72 

28 

20 

109 

229 

44 

12 

90 



Ave. 
.979 
.965 
.962 
.961 
.959 
.956 
.963 
.960 
.946 
.943 
.941 
.928 
.920 
.920 
.920 
.919 
.915 
.912 
.911 
.907 
.905 
.901 
.900 
.896 
.894 



.887 
.886 
.882 
.880 
.875 
.870 
.868 
.865 
.864 
.860 
.869 
.868 
.860 
.845 
.843 
.841 
.833 
.824 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



S75 



Names. Games. PO. A. 

Alexander, Shrevep't, 16 30 1 

Eisey, Ft. Worth, .... 57 80 12 

Miles, Houston, 44 38 4 

Davis, Sherman, 10 7 1 

Gates, Austin, 10 17 2 

Clark, Dallas, 12 8 5 

Kaymer, S. Antonio,.. 14 15 3 

Davis, Sherman, 12 10 2 

Foreith, Aus. , Gal. , . . . 10 9 

Badger, Galveston, ... 12 4 4 

Ruckel, San Antonio,.. 11 14 2 

Graney, S. Antonio, . . 10 18 2 

Anderson, Houston, . . 13 10 5 

Chamberlain, S. A.,.. 15 18 2 

Maloney, Sherman,. . . 15 9 3 

W. McCormick, Hous , 11 5 

Winning Pitchers. 

R. Names. Games. Won 

1 Woodruff, Dallas, 11 11 

2 McMackin, Dallas, 35 28 

3 McAllister, Fort Worth, .... 28 22 

4 McFarland, Fort Worth,. . . 46 34 

5 Weber, Shreveport, 10 7 

6 Bristow, Galveston, 46 30 

7 Mackey, Shreveport, Dallas, 37 23 

8 McCoy, Shreveport, Gal.,.. 34 21 

9 Clark, Dallas, 39 24 

10 Gilpatrick, Sherman, 31 18 

11 Keefe, Sherman, Gal., 47 23 

12 Page, Galveston, 40 22 

13 Feehan, Galveston, Austin, 33 16 

14 Longley, Austin, 17 8 

15 Fernandez, Fort Worth,.... 13 6 

16 McCormick, Houston, 27 12 

17 Maloney, Sherman, 35 15 

18 Brigance, Austin, 14 6 

19 Cox, Galveston, 10 4 

20 Mulkey, San Antonio, 18 7 

21 Garvin, Sherman, 31 12 

22 Hardy, Houston, 32 12 

23 Eundell, Austin, 11 4 

24 Whiting, Houston, 9 3 

25 Dolan, San Antonio, 13 4 

26 Chamberlain, San Antonio, 31 9 

27 Ruckel, San Antonio, 10 2 

28 Isaacs, Houston, 14 2 



E. 


T'l C'hs. 


Ave. 


3 


34 


.824 


20 


112 


.812 


10 


52 


.809 


2 


10 


.800 


5 


24 


.792 


4 


17 


.787 


6 


24 


.750 


4 


16 


.750 


3 


12 


.750 


3 


11 


.730 


6 


22 


.729 


8 


28 


.718 


6 


21 


.710 


9 


29 


.690 


8 


20 


.600 


5 


10 


.500 




Lost. 


Pet. 







1.000 




7 


.800 




6 


.786 




12 


.739 




3 


.700 




16 


.652 




14 


.621 




13 


.617 




15 


.615 




13 


.577 




18 


.561 




18 


.550 




17 


.483 




9 


.470 




7 


.461 




15 


.444 




20 


.428 




8 


.428 




6 


.400 




11 


.388 




19 


.385 




20 


.378 




7 


.360 




6 


.333 




9 


.308 




2 


.290 




8 


.200 




12 


.142 



276 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



IRON AND Oil League Record 

FOR 1895. 



The Iron and Oil League started the season of 1895 
with eight clubs, and for a time had a good race, but 
the season was prematurely brought to a close Aug. 
24, through the disbandment of the Twin City, Oil 
City, and Celeron clubs. Following is the complete 
record : — 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Warren, 23 8 .742 

New Castle,.... 18 12 .600 

Wheeling, 19 13 .594 

Oil City, 17 12 .686 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Franklin, 16 14 .633 

Titnsville, 11 18 .379 

Celeron, 8 19 .296 

Twin City, 6 22 .214 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



277 



Eastern Iowa League Record 

FOR 1895. 



The Eastern Iowa League made a fairly successful 
start with six clubs, but Galesburg quickly dropped 
out and was soon followed by Waterloo. The remain- 
ing four clubs played along regularly until Aug. 26, 
when the disbandment of Cedar Rapids brought the 
season to a close. The record follows : — 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Dubuque, 84 25 ,576 

Burlington, 31 25 .554 

Ottumwa, 33 30 .524 



Won. Lost. Pet. 

Cedar Rapids,.. 27 33 .450 

Galesburg, 2 3 .400 

Waterloo, 3 11 .214 



278 



THE VICTOR BASE BALL GUIDE. 



NATIONAL LEAGUE 



1896. 



Boston. 



Brooklyn. 



New York. 



Philadel- 
phia. 



Baltimore. 



Washing- 
ton. 



Pittsburg. 



Cleveland. 



Cincinnati 



Louisville. 



Chicago. 



St. Louis. 



At 
Boston. 



June 

23, 24, 25. 
Aug. 

16, 17, 18. 

June 

15, 16, 17. 
Aug. 

12, 13, 14. 

June 

26, 27,29. 
July 31. 
Aug. 1, 3. 

Apr. 20,30 

May 2. 
July 

28, 29, 30. 

June 
19, 20, 22. 
Aug. 

5, 6, 7. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
Aug. 
22, 24, 25. 

May 

29, 30, 30. 
Sept. 

5, 7, 7. 

June 

11, 12, 13. 
Aug. 

19, 20, 21. 

June 1,2,3 
Aug. 

29. 31. 
Sept. 1. 

June 

4, 5, 6. 
Aug. 
26, 27, 28. 

June 

8, 9, 10. 
Sept. 
2, 3, 4. 



At 
Brooklyn 



July 

3, 4, 4. 
Sept. 
19,21,22. 



June 

18, 20, 26. 
Aug. 
1, 3, 10. 

June 30. 
July 1, 2. 
Aug. 

5, 6, 7. 

June 

15, 16, 17. 
Aug. 

12, 13, 14. 

Apr. 29,30 
May 2. 
July 

28, 29, 30. 

June 

8, 9, 10. 
Aug. 
19,20,21. 

June 
11, 12, 13. 
Sept. 
2, 3, 4. 

June 

4, 5, 6. 
Sept. 

5,7,7. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
Aug. 

26,27,28. 

May 

29, 30, 30. 
Aug. 

22,24,25. 

June 

1,2,3. 
Aug.29,31 
Sept. 1. 



At 
NewYork 



Apr. 

25, 27, 28. 
Sept. 
9, 10, 12. 

June 
19, 27, 29. 
July 31. 
Aug. 8,11. 



Apr. 

21, 22, 23. 
Sept. 

15, 16,17 

July 

3, 4, 4. 

Sept. 
24,25,26. 

June 

23, 24, 25. 
Aug. 

15, 17, 18 

June 
11, 12, 13. 

Sept. 

5,7,7. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
Aug.29,31 
Sept. 1. 

June 

8, 9, 10. 
Sept. 
2, 3, 4. 

May 

29, 30, 30. 
Aug. 

22, 24, 26. 

June 

1,2,3. 
Aug. 
19,20,21. 

June 

4, 5, 6. 
Aug, 

26, 27, 28. 



At 
Philadel- 
phia. 



Apr. 
16, 17, 18. 
May 25. 
Aug. 8,10. 

Apr. 

25,27,28. 
Sept. 
24, 25, 26. 

Apr. 29,30 
May 2. 
July 

28, 29, 30. 



June 

22, 23, 24. 
Aug. 
15, 17, 18. 

July 

3, 4, 4. 
Aug 



At 
BaVmore 



Apr. 
21,22,23. 
Sept. 

15, 16,17. 

Apr. 

16, 17, 18. 
Sept. 

9, 10, 12. 

May 25. 
June 30. 
July 1. 
Aug. 5,6,7 

June 

18, 19, 20. 
Sept. 

19,21,22. 



Apr. 25,28 
June 29. 
Aug 



12,13,14.! 1,10,11. 



June 

4, 6, 6. 
Sept. 

2, 3, 4. 

June 

8, 9, 10. 
Aug. 

26, 27, 28. 

June 1,2,3 
Aug. 

29, 31. 
Sept. 1. 

June 

11,12,13. 
Aug. 

19, 20, 21. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
Sept. 

5, 5, 7. 

May 

29, 30, 30. 
Aug. 
22, 24, 25. 



June 

12 3. 
Aug!29,3i 
Sept. 1. 

June 

4, 5, 6. 
Aug. 

22, 24, 25. 

May 
29,30,30. 
Aug. 

26, 27, 28. 

June 

8, 9, 10. 
Sept. 

5, 7, 7. 

June 
11, 12, 13. 
Sept. 
2, 3, 4. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
Aug. 
19, 20, 21. 



At 
Washing- 
ton. 



June 30. 
July 1, 2. 
Sept. 
24, 25,26. 

Apr. 
21, 22, 23. 
Sept. 

15, 16, 17. 

Apr. 

16, 17, 18. 
Sept. 

19,21,22. 

June 
15, 16, 17. 
Sept. 
9, 10, 12. 

Apr. 27. 
June26,27 
July 31. 
Aug. 3, 8. 



May 29. 
July 6, 7. 
Aug. 

26, 27, 28. 

June 

1,2,3. 
Aug. 
19, 20, 21. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
Aug. 
22, 24, 25. 

June 

4, 5, 6. 
Sept. 

2, 3, 4. 

June 

8, 9, 10. 
Aug.29,31 
Sept. 1. 

June 
11,12,13. 
Sept. 
5,7,7. 



THE VICTOR BASE BALL GUIDE. 



279 



Schedule for 1896. 



At At 

Pittsburg Cl'veland 



May 

14, 15, 16. 
July 

13, 14, 15. 

May 

18, 19, 20. 
July 
9,10,11. 

May 

11,12,13. 
July 

23, 24, 25. 

May 

21,22,23. 
July 
16, 17, 18. 

May 

4, 5, 6. 
July 
20, 21, 22. 

May 7, 8,9 
May 

30, 30. 
July 8. 



Apr. 

25,27,28. 
Aug. 
14, 15, 17. 

July 

3, 4, 4. 
Sept. 

14. 15. 16. 

Apr. 

21, 22, 23. 
Sept. 

19,21,22. 

June 

15. 16. 17. 
Sept. 

9, 10, 12. 

June 

18, 19, 20. 
Aug. 

11, 12, 13. 



May 

21, 22, 23. 
July 
16, 17, 18. 

May 

7,8,9. 
July 

6, 7, 8. 

May 

14, 15, 16. 
July 

13, 14, 15. 

May 

11,12,13. 
July 
23, 24, 25. 

May 

18, 19, 20. 
July 
9, 10, 11. 

May 

4, 5, 6. 
July 
20, 21, 22. 

June 
22, 23, 24. 
Aug. 
7, 8, 10. 



At 
Cincin- 
nati. 



Apr. 30. 
May 1,2. 
Sept. 
19,21,22. 

June 

25, 26, 27. 
Aug. 

11, 12, 13. 

June 

18, 19, 20. 
Aug. 
3, 4, 5. 

July 

3,4,4. 
Sept. 
9, 10, 12. 



May 

4, 5, 6. 
July 

23, 24, 25. 

May 

14, 16, 17. 
July 

12, 13, 14. 

May 

21, 22, 23. 
July 
20, 21, 22. 

May 

18, 19, 20. 
July 

6, 7, 8. 

May 

7, 8, 9. 
July 

16, 18, 19. 

May 

10, 11, 12. 
July 
9, 10, 11. 

Apr. 
16, 17, 18. 
July 30,31 
Aug.l 

Apr. 

21,22,23. 
July 
27, 28, 29, 



Apr. 19. 

May 24. 
June 20. 
Aug. 8, 9. 
Sept. 20. 

Apr, 

25, 26, 27. 
Sept. 
13, 26, 27. 

June 
15, 16, 17. 
July 5. 
Aug. 2, 3. 



At 
Lou' yille 



May 

7,8,9. 
July 

6, 7, 8. 

May 

10, 11, 12. 
July 

20, 21, 22. 

May 

4, 5, 6. 
July 
16, 17, 18. 

May 

14, 15, 16. 
July 
9, 10, 11. 

May 

21, 22, 23. 
July 

12, 13, 14. 

May 

17, 18, 19. 
July 

23, 25, 26. 

Apr. 30. 
May 1, 2. 
Aug. 
3, 4, 5. 

June 

15, 16. 
Sept. '23, 

24, 25, 26. 

May 3. 
June29,30 
Sept. 
9, 10, 12. 



At 
Chicago, 



Apr. 

16, 17, 18. 
Aug. 

15, 16, 17. 

June 
21,22,23. 
Sept. 
13,14,15, 



May 

11, 12, 13. 
July 

20, 21, 22. 

May 

4,5,6. 
July 

23, 25, 26. 

May 

18, 19, 20. 
July 
9, 10, 11. 

May 

July 

13, 14, 15. 

May 

14, 16, 17. 
July 

6, 7, 8. 

May 

21, 23,24. 
July 
16, 18, 19. 

June 

25,26,27. 
July 
27, 28, 29 

June29,30 
July 1. 
Sept. 
14, 15, 16. 

June 

21,22,23. 
Aug. 

11, 12, 13. 

June 28. 
July 

4, 4, 5. 
Aug. 1, 2. 



Apr. 30. 
May 2, 3. 
Aug. 
6, 8, 9 



At 
St. Louis. 



May 
18,19,20. 
July 
9, 10, 11. 

May 

22, 23, 24. 
July 
16, 18, 19. 

May 

7, 8, 9. 
July 
6, 7, 8. 

May 

4,5,6. 
July 

20, 21, 22. 

May 

10, 11, 12. 
July 
24, 25, 26. 

May 

14, 15, 16. 
July 

12, 13, 14. 

June29,30 
July 1. 
Sept. 
24, 25, 26. 

Apr. 

16, 17, 18. 
July 30,31 
Aug. 1. 

June 

25,27,28. 
Aug. 

15, 16, 17. 

Apr. 

25, 26, 27. 
July 
27, 28, 29. 

Apr. 
19,21,22. 
Sept. 
19,20,21. 



1896. 



Boston. 



Brooklyn. 



New York. 



Philadel- 
phia. 



Baltimore. 



Washing- 
ton. 



Pittsburg. 



Cleyeland. 



Cincinnati. 



Louisyille. 



Chicago. 



St. Louis. 



280 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Eastern League 



1896. 



Toronto. 



Buffalo. 



Rochester. 



Syracuse. 



Scranton. 



Wilkesbarre. 



Springfield. 



Providence. 



At 
Toronto. 



June 

2, 3, 4. 
July 1, 2. 
Sept. 

12*, 14, 15. 

May 

8, 9*, 11. 
July 6, 7. 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 1, 2. 

May 

12, 13, 14. 
July 8, 9. 
Aug. 

27, 28, 29*. 

May 

15, 16» 18. 
June 24, 25. 
Aug. 

1*, 3, 4. 

May 

19, 20, 21. 
June 22, 23. 
July 

28, 29, 30. 

May 

22, 23», 25. 
June 29, 30. 
Aug. 

5, 6, 7. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
June 26, 27*. 
Aug. 

8*, 10, 11. 



At 
Buffalo. 



May 30, 30. 
June 1, 
July 4, 4. 
Sept. 

9, 10, 11. 



May 

12, 13, 14. 
July 8, 9. 
Aug. 28, 29*. 
Sept. 7, P.M. 

May 

8, 9*, U. 
July 6, 7. 
Sept. 

3, 4, 5*. 

May 

19, 20, 21. 
June 22, 23. 
July 



May 

15, 16*, 18. 
June 24, 25. 
Aug. 

1*, 3, 4. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
June 26, 27*. 
Aug. 

8*. 10, 11. 

May 

22, 23», 25. 
June 29, 30. 
Aug. 

5, 6, 7. 



At 
Rochester. 



May 

5, 6, 7, 
July 14, 15. 
Sept. 

3, 4, 5*. 

May 1, 2*, 4. 
July 11*, 13. 
Aug. 27. 
Sept. 

7, A. M., 8, 



May 30 P. M. 
June 1,2. 
July 

3, 4, A. M. 
Sept. 9, 10, 11. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
June 26, 27*. 
Aug. 

5, 6, 7. 

May 

22, 23*, 25. 
June 29, 30. 
Aug. 

8*, 10, 11 

May 

19, 20, 21, 
June 22, 23. 
Aug. 

1*, 3, 4. 

May 

15, 16*, 18 
June 24, 25. 
July 

28, 29, 30, 



At 
Syracuse. 



May 

1, 2*, 4. 
July 11*, 13. 
Sept. 

7, 7, 8. 

May 

5, 6, 7. 
July 14, 15. 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 1, 2. 

May 30 A. M. 
June 3, 4. 
July 

2, 4, P. M. 
Sept. 12, 14, 15. 



May 

22, 23*, 25. 
June 29, 30. 
Aug. 

8*, 10, 11. 

May 

26, 27, 28. 
June 26, 27*. 
Aug. 

5,6,7. 

May 

15, 16*, 18. 
June 24, 25. 
July 



May 

19, 20, 21. 
June 22, 23. 
Aug. 

1*, 3, 4. 



Note.— The asterisk (*) indicates 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



281 



SCHEDULE FOR 1896, 



At 

Scranton. 



June 

6*, 8. 9 
July 22, 23. 
Aug. 

13, 14, 15*, 

June 

10, 11, 12. 
July 24, 25*. 
Aug. 

17, 18, 19. 

June 

13*, 15, 16, 
July 20, 21. 
Aug. 

20, 21, 22*. 

June 

17, 18, 20*. 
July 17, 18*. 
Aug. 

24, 25, 26. 



May 30, P. M. 
June 2, 4. 
July 3, 4, A.M. 

Sept. 3, 5*. 
Sept. 7, A. M. 

May 

8, 9*, 11. 
July 8, 9. 
Sept. 

12*, 14, 15. 

May 

12, 13, 14. 
July 6, 7. 
Sept. 

9, 10, 11. 



At 
Wilkesbarre. 



June 

10, 11, 12 
July 24, 25*. 
Aug. 

17, 18, 19, 

June 

6*, 8, 9, 
July 22, 23. 
Aug. 

13, 14, 15*, 

June 

17, 18, 20*. 
July 17, 18*. 
Aug. 

24, 25, 26. 

June 

13*, 15, 16. 
July 20, 21. 
Aug. 

20, 21, 22*. 

May 30, A. M. 
June 1,3. 
July 3, 4, P.M. 
Sept. 4,7, P.M. 
Sept. 8. 



May 

12, 13, 14. 
July 6, 7. 
Sept. 

9, 10, 11, 

May 

8, 9*, 11. 
July 8, 9. 
Sept. 

12*, 14, 15, 



At 
Springfield. 



June 

13*, 15, 16, 
July 17, 18*. 
Aug. 

20, 21, 22*, 

June 

17, 18, 20*. 
July 20, 21. 
Aug. 

24, 25, 26. 

June 

6*, 8, 9. 
July 22, 23. 
Aug. 

13, 14, 15*. 

June 

10, 11, 12. 
July 24, 25*. 
Aug. 

17, 18, 19, 

May 1, 2*, 4. 
July 

11, 13, 
Aug. 

27, 28, 29*. 

May 5, 6, 7. 
July 14, 15. 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 

1,2. 



June 

2,3,4. 
July 2, 3. 
Sept. 

3,4,5*. 



At 
Providence. 



June 

17, 18, 20*. 
July 20, 21. 
Aug. 

24, 25, 26. 

June 

13*, 15, 16. 
July 17, 18*. 
Aug. 

20, 21, 22*. 

June 

10, 11, 12. 
July 24, 25*. 
Aug. 

17, 18, 19. 

June 

6*, 8, 9. 
July 22, 23. 
Aug. 

13, 14, 15*. 

May 5, 6, 7. 
July 14, 15. 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 

1,2. 

May 1, 2*, 4. 
July 

11*, 13. 
Aug. 

27, 28, 29*. 

May 30, 30. 
June 1. 
July 4, 4. 
Sept. 

7, 7, 8. 



1896. 



Toronto. 



Buffalo. 



Rochester. 



Syracuse. 



Scranton. 



Wilkesbarre. 



Springfield. 



Providence. 



that the date falls on Saturday, 



283 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



WESTERN LEAGUE 



Clubs. ^ ^*.^ 

1 Detroit. 



Detroit. 



Columbus. 



Grand Rapids 



Indianapolis. 



Kansas City. 



Milwaukee. 



Minneapolis. 



St. Paul. 



Apr. 28, 29, 30. 
June 

19, 20, 21, 22, 
August 

13, 15, 16, 



May 4, 5, 6. 
July 

3, 4 (2), 5, 
August 

20, 22, 23, 

May 1, 2, 3. 
June 

15, 16, 17, 18, 
August 

17, 18, 19. 

June 2, 3, 4, 5. 
July 31. 
Aug. 1, 2. 
Sept. 

21, 22, 23. 

June 6, 7, 8, 9. 
July 

28, 29, 30. 
Sept. 

17, 19, 20. 

May 

26, 27, 28, 29. 
July 25, 26, 27. 
Sept. 

14, 15, 16. 

May 30(2), 31. 
June 1. 
Aug. 3, 4, 5. 
Sept. 

11, 12, 13. 



At 
Columbus. 



April 

25, 26, 27. 
June 

23, 24, 25, 26. 
Aug. 6, 8, 9. 



April 

22, 23, 24. 
June 

27, 28, 29, 30. 
Aug. 10, 11, 12. 

May 4, 5, 6. 
July 

3, 4 (2), 5. 
August 

20, 22, 23. 

May 

26, 27, 28, 29. 
Aug. 3, 4, 5. 
Sept. 

11, 12, 13. 

May 30 (2), 31. 
Jne. 1. Jul. 31. 
Aug. 1, 2. 
Sept. 

14, 15, 16. 

June 

6,7,8,9. 
July 28, 29, 30. 
Sept. 

21, 22, 23. 



June 

2, 3, 4, 5. 
July 25, 26, 27. 
Sept. 

17, 19, 20. 



At 
Grand Rapids 



May 7, 9, 10. 
June 

10, 11, 13, 14. 
August 

24, 25, 26. 

May 1, 2, 3. 
June 

15, 16, 17, 18, 
August 

17, 18, 19, 



April 

28, 29, 30, 
June 

19, 20, 21, 22, 
Aug. 13, 15, 16, 

June 6, 7, 8, 9. 
July 

28, 29, 30, 
Sept. 

17, 19, 20, 

June 2, 3, 4, 5. 
July 

25, 26, 27. 
Sept. 

21, 22, 23. 

May 30(2), 31. 
June 1. 
Aug. 3, 4, 5. 
Sept. 

11, 12, 13. 



May 

26, 27, 28, 29. 
July 31. 
Aug. 1, 2. 
Sept. 14, 15, 16. 



At 
Indianapolis. 



April 

22, 23, 24. 
June 

27, 28, 29, 30. 
Aug.lO, 11, 12. 

May 7, 9, 10. 
Juiie 

10, 11, 13, 14. 
August 

24, 25, 26. 

April 

25, 26, 27. 
June 

23, 24, 25, 26. 
Aug. 6, 8, 9. 



May 30, (2) 31. 
June 1. 
July 25, 26, 27. 
Sept. 

14, 15, 16. 



May 

26, 27, 28, 29. 
Aug. 3, 4, 5. 
Sept. 

11, 12, 13. 



June 2, 3, 4,5. 
July 31. 
Aug. 1,2. 
Sept. 



June 6, 7. 8,9. 
July 

28, 29, 30. 
Sept. 

21, 22, 23. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



283 



SCHEDULE FOR 1896. 



At 
Kansas City. 



May 19, 20, 21 
July 

20, 21, 22, 23, 
Sept. 

4, 5, 6, 



May 12, 13, 14 
July 

11, 12, 13, 14 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 1, 2. 

May 22, 23, 24, 
July 

16, 17, 18, 19. 
Sept. 

7, 8, 9. 



May 15, 16, 17 
July 

7, 8, 9, 10, 
August 

28, 29, 30 



May 8, 9, 10. 
July 

2, 4 (2), 6, 
August 

25, 26, 27. 

April 

22, 23, 24. 
June 

11, 12, 13, 14. 
Aug. 10, 11, 12. 

April 

25, 26, 27, 
June 

15, 16, 17, 18, 
Aug. 7, 8, 9. 



At 
Milwaukee. 



May 22, 23, 24 
July 

15, 16, 18, 19 
Sept. 

7 (2). 8. 



May 15, 16, 17. 
July 

7, 8, 9, 10. 
August 

28, 29, 30 

May 18, 19, 20. 
July 

20, 21, 22, 23. 
Sept. 

3, 5, 6. 



May 12, 13, 14 
July 

11, 12, 13, 14 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 1, 2. 

May 5, 6, 7. 
June 

27, 28, 29, 30. 
August 

13, 15, 16. 



April 

25, 26, 27, 
June 

15, 16, 17, 18, 
Aug. 7, 8, 9. 

April 

22, 23, 24, 
June 

11, 12, 13, 14 
Aug. 10, 11, 12. 



At 
Minneapolis. 



May 15, 16, 17 
July 7, 8, 9, 10 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 



May 22, 23, 24 
July 

20, 21, 22, 23 
Sept. 

7 (2), 8, 

May 12, 13, 14. 
July 

11, 12, 13, 14 
August 

28, 29, 30. 



May 19,20,21. 
July 

15, 16, 18, 19. 
Sept. 

3, 5, 6. 

May 2, 3, 4. 
June 

23, 24, 25, 26. 
August 

17, 18, 19. 

April 28, 30. 
May 1. 
June 

19, 20, 21, 22. 
Aug. 20, 22, 23. 



May 5, 6, 7. 
June 27, 28, 29. 
July 4. 
August 

14, 15, 16. 



At 
St. Paul. 



May 12, 13, 14. 
July 

11, 12, 13, 14 
August 

28, 29, 30. 

May 18, 19, 20. 
July 

15, 16, 18, 19. 
Sept. 

4, 5, 6. 



May 15, 16, 17. 
July 

7, 8, 9, 10. 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 1, 2. 



May 22, 23, 24. 
July 

20, 21, 22, 23, 
Sept. 

7 (2), 8. 

April 29, 30. 
May 1. 
June 

19, 20, 21, 22. 
Aug.20,22,23 



May 2, 3, 4. 
June 

23, 24, 25, 26. 
August 

17, 18, 19 



May 8, 9, 10. 
June 30. 
Jul.l,4(pm),5. 
August 

24, 25, 26. 



Clubs. 



Detroit. 



Columbus. 



Grand Rapids 



Indianapolis. 



Kansas City. 



Milwaukee. 



Minneapolis. 



St. Paul. 



284 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



New England League 

SCHEDULE FOR 1896. 



May 1.— Portland at New Bed- 
ford, Lewiston at Fall Kiver, 
Bangor at Pawtucket, Augusta 
at Brockton. 

May 2. — Bangor at Pawtucket, 
Augusta at Brockton. 

May 2, 4.— Portland at Fall River, 
Lewiston at New Betiford, Ban- 
gor at Brockton, Augusta at 
Pawtucket. 

May 5.— Portland at New Bed- 
ford, Lewiston at Fall River, 
Bangor at Brockton, Augusta 
at Pawtucket. 

May 6, 7.— Portland at Brockton, 
Lewiston at Pawtucket, Bangor 
at Fall River, Augusta at New 
Bedford. 

Mays, 9.— Portland at Pawtucket, 
Lewiston at Brockton, Bangor 
at New Bedford, Augusta at 
Fall River. 

May 11, 12.— Pawtucket at Au- 
gusta, Brockton at Bangor, 
New Bedford at Portland, Fall 
River at Lewiston. 

May 13, 14. — Pawtucket at Ban- 
gor, Brockton at Augusta, New 
Bedford atiLewiston, Fall River 
at Portland. 

May 15, 16.— Pawtucket at Port- 
land, Brockton at Lewiston, 
New Bedford at Augusta, Fall 
River at Bangor. 

May 18, 19.— Pawtucket at Lewis- 
ton, Brockton at Portland, New 
Bedford at Bangor, Fall River 
at Augusta. 

May 20, 21.— Pawtucket at New 
Bedford, Augusta at Portland, 
Fall River at Brockton, Bangor 
at Lewiston. 

May 22.— Fall River at New Bed- 
ford. 

May 22, 23.— Augusta at Lewiston, 
Brockton at Pawtucket, Bangor 
at Portland. 

May 25.— Pawtucket at Brockton. 

May 25, 26.— New Bedford at Fall 
River, Lewiston at Bangor, 
Portland at Augusta. 

May 27, 28.— New Bedford at 
Pawtucket, Brockton at Fall 
River, Lewiston at Augusta, 
Portland at Bangor. 

May 29.~Fall River at Pawtucket, 



Brockton at New Bedford, Ban- 
gor at Augusta, Portland at 
Lewiston. 

May 30 (a. m.) — Fall River at 
Pawtucket, Brockton at New 
Bedford, Augusta at Bangor, 
Portland at Lewiston. 

May 30 (p. m.)— New Bedford at 
Brockton, Pavvtucket at Fall 
River, Augusta at Bangor, Lew- 
iston at Portland. 

June 1.— New Bedford at Brock- 
ton, Pawtucket at Fall River, 
Bangor at Augusta, Lewiston 
at Portland. 

June 2, 3.— Augusta at Pawtucket, 
Bangor at Brockton, Lewiston 
at New Bedford, Portland at 
Fall River. 

June 4, 5.— Augusta at Brockton, 
Bangor at Pawtucket, Lewiston 
at Fall River, Portland at New 
Bedford. 

June 6, 8.— Augusta at New Bed- 
ford, Bangor at Fall River, 
Lewiston at Pawtucket, Port- 
land at Brockton. 

June 9, 10.— Augusta at Fall 
River, Bangor at New Bedford, 
Lewiston at Brockton, Portland 
at Pawtucket. 

June 11, 12.— Fall River at Ban- 
gor, New Bedford at Augusta, 
Brockton at Lewiston, Paw- 
tucket at Portland. 

June 13, 15.— Fall River at Au- 
gusta, New Bedford at Bangor, 
Brockton at Portland, Paw- 
tucket at Lewiston. 

June 16, 17.— Fall River at Lewis- 
ton, New Bedford at Portland, 
Brockton at Augusta, Paw- 
tucket at Bangor. 

June 18, 19.— Fall River at Port- 
land, New Bedford at Lewis- 
ton, r 
tucket at Augusta. 

June 20, 22.— Fall River at Brock- 
ton, Pawtucket at New Bed- 
ford, Augusta at Portland, 
Bangor at Lewiston. 

June 23.— New Bedford at Fall 
River, Pawtucket at Brockton, 
Augusta at Lewiston, Bangor 
at Portland. 

June 24.— Fall River at New Bed- 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



285 



New England League Schedule— Continued. 



ford, Pawtucket at Brockton, 
Augusta at Lewiston, Bangor 
at Portland. 

June 25.— Brockton at Pawtuck- 
et. 

June 26.— Lewiston at Portland. 

June 26, 27.— New Bedford at 
Pawtucket, Brockton at Fall 
River, Bangor at Augusta. 

June 27.— Portland at Lewiston. 

June 29, 30.— Brockton at New 
Bedford, Pawtucket at Fall 
River. 

June 30.— Portland at Augusta, 
Lewiston at Bangor. 

July 1. — Lewiston at Bangor, 
Portland at Augusta. 

July 1, 2.— Fall River at Paw- 
tucket, New Bedford at Brock- 
ton, Lewiston at Augusta, Port- 
land at Bangor. 

July 3. — Lewiston at Augusta, 
Portland at Bangor. 

July 4 (a. m.)— Fall River at New 
Bedford, Augusta at Bangor, 
Lewiston at Portland, Brock- 
ton at Pawtucket. 

July 4 (p. m.)— New Bedford at 
Fall River, Pawtucket at Brock- 
ton, Augusta at Bangor, Port- 
land at Lewiston. 

July 6, 7.— Portland at Pawtucket, 
Lewiston at Brockton, Bangor 
at Fall River, Augusta at New 
Bedford. 

July 8, 9.— Portland at Brockton, 
Lewiston at Pawtucket, Bangor 
at New Bedford, Augusta at 
Fall River. 

July 10, 11.— Portland at New 
Bedford, Lewiston at Fall 
River, Bangor at Brockton, 
Augusta at Pawtucket. 

July 13, 14.— Portland at Fall 
River, Lewiston at New Bed- 
ford, Bangor at Pawtucket, Au- 
gusta at Brockton. 

July 15, 16.— Pawtucket at Au- 
gusta, Brockton at Bangor, 
New Bedford at Lewiston, Fall 
River at Portland. 

July 17, 18.— Pawtucket at Ban- 
gor, Brockton at Augusta, New 
Bedford at Portland, Fall River 
at Lewiston. 

July 20, 21.— Pawtucket at Port- 
land, Brockton at Lewiston, 
New Bedford at Augusta, Fall 
River at Bangor. 

July 22, 23.— Pawtucket at Lewis- 



ton, Brockton at Portland, New 
Bedford at Bangor, Fall River 
at Augusta. 

July 24.— New Bedford at Fall 
River, Pawtucket at Brockton, 
Portland at Lewiston, Augusta 
at Bangor. 

July 25. — Pawtucket at Brockton, 
Fall River at New Bedford, 
Augusta at Bangor, Lewiston 
at Portland. 

July 28, 29.— Pawtucket at New 
Bedford, Fall River at Brock- 
ton, Portland at Augusta, Lew- 
iston at Bangor. 

July 30.— Brockton at Pawtucket, 
Fall River at New Bedford, 
Lewiston at Augusta, Portland 
at Bangor. 

July 31.— New Bedford at Fall 
River, Brockton at Pawtucket, 
Lewiston at Augusta, Portland 
at Bangor. 

August 1, 3.— Portland at Lewis- 
ton, Fall River at Pawtucket, 
Brockton at New Bedford, Ban- 
gor at Augusta. 

August 5, 6.— New Bedford at^ 
Pawtucket, Brockton at Fall 
River, Augusta at Portland, 
Bangor at Lewiston. 

August 7, 8.— New Bedford at 
Brockton, Pawtucket at Fall 
River, Augusta at Lewiston, 
Bangor at Portland. 

August 11.— Fall River at Brock- 
ton, New Bedford at Paw- 
tucket, Lewiston at Bangor, 
Portland at Augusta. 

August 12. — Brockton at Fall 
River, Lewiston at Bangor, 
Portland at Augusta. 

August 13.— Fall River at New 
Bedford, Brockton at Paw- 
tucket, Lewiston at Augusta, 
Portland at Bangor. 

August 14.— New Bedford at Fall 
River, Brockton at Pawtucket, 
Lewiston at Augusta, Portland 
at Bangor. 

August 15, 17.— Augusta at Paw- 
tucket, Bangor at Brockton, 
Lewiston at New Bedford, 
Portland at Fall River. 

August 18, 19.— Augusta at Brock- 
ton, Bang©r at Pawtucket, 
Lewiston at Fall River, Port- 
land at New Bedford. 

August 20, 21.— Augusta at New 
Bedford, Bangor at Fall River, 



286 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



New E^n^gland League Schedule— Continued. 



Lewiston at Pawtucket, Port- 
land at Brockton. 

August 22, 24.— Augusta at Fall 
River, Bangor at Kew Bedford, 
Lewiston at Brockton, Portland 
at Pawtucket. 

August 25, 26.— Fall River at 
Portland, New Bedford at Lew- 
iston, Brockton at Bangor, 
Pawtucket at Augusta. 

August 27, 28.— Fall River at 
Lewiston, New Bedford at 
Portland, Brockton at Augusta, 
Pawtucket at Bangor. 

August 29, 31.— Fall River at Ban- 
gor, New Bedford at Augusta, 
Brockton at Lewiston, Paw- 
tucket at Portland. 

September 1, 2.— Fall River at 
Augusta, New Bedford at Ban- 

for, Brockton at Portland, 
awtucket at Lewiston. 
September 4, 5.— Fall River at 



Pawtucket, New Bedford at 
Brockton, Bangor at Augusta, 
Lewiston at Portland. 

September 7 (a. m..) — Brockton at 
Fall River, Pawtucket at New 
Bedford, Augusta at Bangor, 
Portland at Lewiston. 

September 7 (p. m.)— Fall River 
at Brockton, New Bedford at 
Pawtucket, Lewiston at Port- 
land. 

September 9, 10.— Brockton at 
New Bedford, Pawtucket at 
Fall River, Augusta at Lewis- 
ton, Bangor at Portland. 

September 11.— Fall River at 
New Bedford, Pawtucket at 
Brockton, Augusta at Port- 
land, Bangor at Lewiston. 

September 12.— New Bedford at 
Fall River, Pawtucket at 
Brockton, Augusta at Portland, 
Bangor at Lewiston. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL ^GUIDE. 



287 



PENNSYLVANIA LEAGUE 

SCHEDULE FOR 1896. 



May 1, 2.— Hazleton at York, 
Reading at Potts ville, Carbon- 
dale at Lancaster, Philadelphia 
at Easton. 
May 4, 5. — Hazleton at Lancaster, 
Pottsville at Reading, Easton 
at Philadelphia, Carbondale at 
York. 
May 6, 7.— Hazleton at Reading, 
York at Lancaster, Easton at 
Pottsville, Carbondale at Phila- 
delphia. 
May 8, 9.— Hazleton at Philadel- 
phia, Easton at Reading, Lan- 
caster at York, Carbondale at 
Pottsville. 
May 11, 12.— Pottsville at Carbon- 
dale, Easton at York, Lancaster 
at Philadelphia, Reading at 
Hazleton. 
May 13, 14.— Pottsville at Hazle- 
ton, York at Philadelphia, Lan- 
caster at Easton, Reading at 
Carbondale. 
May 15, 16.— Pottsville at Phila- 
delphia, York at Hazleton, Lan- 
caster at Carbondale, Reading 
at Easton. 
May 18, 19.— Pottsville at Easton, 
York at Carbondale, Lancaster 
at Hazleton, Reading at Phila- 
delphia. 
May 20, 21.— Pottsville at Lan- 
caster, Hazleton at Carbondale, 
York at Reading, Easton at 
Philadelphia. 
May 22, 23.— Easton at Lancaster, 
Reading at York, Carbondale at 
Hazleton, Pottsville at Phila- 
delphia. 
May 25, 26.— Lancaster at Potts- 
ville, Carbondale at Reading, 
Philadelphia at York, Hazleton 
at Easton, Philadelphia at York. 
May 27, 28.— Philadelphia at 
Reading, Hazleton at Potts- 
ville, York at Easton, Carbon- 
dale at Lancaster. 
May 30 (a. m>-Hazleton at York, 
Easton at Carbondale, Reading 
at Pottsville, Philadelphia at 
Lancaster. 
May 30 (p. m.)— Easton at Carbon- 
dale, Philadelphia at Lancaster, 
Pottsville at Reading, Hazleton 
at York. 



June 1, 2.— York at Pottsville, 
Reading at Lancaster, Phila- 
delphia at Hazleton. 
June 3, 4.— Pottsville at York, 
Easton at Hazleton, Philadel- 
phia at Carbondale, Lancaster 
at Reading. 
June 5, 6. — Hazleton at Reading, 
Easton at Lancaster, Carbon- 
dale at York, Philadelphia at 
Pottsville. 
Junes, 9.— Hazleton at Lancaster, 
Easton at York, Carbondale at 
Pottsville, Philadelphia at 
Reading. 
June 10, 11.— Pottsville at Easton, 
York at Hazleton, Carbondale at 
Reading, Philadelphia at Lan- 
caster. 
June 12, 13.— Pottsville at Hazle- 
ton, York at Carbondale, Phila- 
delphia at Easton, Lancaster at 
Reading. 
June 15, 16.— York at Easton, 
Pottsville at Carbondale, Lan- 
caster at Philadelphia, Reading 
at Hazleton. 
June 17, 18.— Hazleton at Potts- 
ville, York at Philadelphia, 
Lancaster at Easton, Reading 
at Carbondale. 
June 19, 20.— York at Reading, 
Hazleton at Philadelphia, Lan- 
caster at Pottsville, Carbondale 
at Easton. 
June 22, 23.— Hazleton at Carbon- 
dale, Easton at Reading, Lan- 
caster at York, Philadelphia at 
Pottsville. 
June 24, 25.— Easton at Pottsville, 
Reading at Lancaster, Carbon- 
dale at Hazleton, Philadelphia 
at York. 
June 26, 27. — Lancaster at Hazle- 
ton, Reading at Easton, Carbon- 
dale at Philadelphia, York at 
Pottsville. 
June 29,30.— Lancaster at Carbon- 
dale, Reading at Philadelphia, 
Pottsville at York, Hazleton at 
York. 
July 1, 2.— Philadelphia at Carbon- 
dale, Easton at Carbondale, 
Pottsville at Lancaster, Read- 
ing at York. 
July 4 (a. m.)— Philadelphia at 



288 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Pennsylvania League Schedule— Continued. 



Hazleton, Carbondale at Easton, 
Lancaster at York, Reading at 
Pottsville. 

July 4 (p. m.)— Philadelphia at 
Hazleton, Carbondale at Easton, 
York at Lancaster, Pottsville at 
Reading. 

July 6, 7.— Carbondale at Potts- 
ville, Reading at Lancaster, 
Easton at York, Hazleton at 
Philadelphia. 

July 8, 9. — Carbondale at Reading, 
Lancaster at Philadelphia, 
Easton at Pottsville, Hazleton at 
York. 

July 10, 11.— Carbondale at Phila- 
delphia, Easton at Reading, 
York at Lancaster, Hazleton at 
Pottsville. 

July 13, 14.— Carbondale at Hazle- 
ton, Lancaster at Reading, York 
at Philadelphia, Pottsville at 
Easton. 

July 15, 16.— Reading at Philadel- 
phia, Lancaster at Hazleton, 
York at Easton, Pottsville at 
Philadelphia. 

July 17, 18. — Lancaster at Carbon- 
dale, Easton at Philadelphia, 
York at Reading, Pottsville at 
Hazleton. 

July 20, 21.— Lancaster at Easton, 
Hazleton at Carbondale, Potts- 
ville at Philadelphia, Reading 

July 22, 23.— Reading at Potts- 
ville, Hazleton at Philadelphia, 
Lancaster at York. 

July 24, 25.— York at Pottsville, 
Hazleton at Reading, Easton at 
Philadelphia, Carbondale at 
Lancaster. 

July 27, 28.— Carbondale at York, 
Philadelphia at Reading, 
Easton at Lancaster. 

July 29, 30.- Philadelphia at York, 
Pottsville at Carbondale, Lan- 
caster at Easton, Reading at 
Hazleton. 

August 1, 3.— Reading at Carbon- 
dale, Lancaster at Pottsville, 
York at Philadelphia, Hazleton 
at Easton. 

August 4, 5. — Reading at Easton, 
Carbondale at Pottsville, Lan- 
caster at Philadelphia, Hazleton 
at York. 

August 6, 7.— Reading at Phila- 
delphia, Carbondale at York, 



Easton at Pottsville, Hazleton 
at Lancaster. 

August 8, 10.— Philadelphia at 
Easton, Carbondale at Lan- 
caster, Hazleton at Reading, 
Pottsville at York. 

August 11, 12. — Philadelphia at 
Carbondale, Lancaster at Hazle- 
ton, York at Easton, Pottsville 
at Reading. 

August 13, 14.— Philadelphia at 
Hazleton, Lancaster at Carbon- 
dale, Easton at Reading, York 
at Pottsville. 

August 15, 17.— Philadelphia at 
Pottsville, Reading at Lan- 
caster, Easton at Hazleton, 
York at Carbondale. 

August 18, 19.— Pottsville at Lan- 
caster, York at Hazleton, 
Easton at Carbondale, Philadel- 
phia at Reading. 

August 20, 21.— Pottsville at 
Reading, Hazleton at Carbon- 
dale, Easton at York, Philadel- 
phia at Lancaster. 

August 22, 24.— I'ottsville at York, 
Easton at Lancaster, Reading 
at Carbondale, Philadelphia at 
Hazleton. 

August 25, 26.— Philadelphia at 
Easton. 

August 27, 28.— Pottsville . at 
Easton, Lancaster at York, 
Reading at Hazleton, Philadel- 
phia at Carbondale. 

August 29, 31. — York at Hazleton, 
Easton at Carbondale, Reading 
at Pottsville, Philadelphia at 
Lancaster. 

September 2, 3.— Lancaster at 
Reading, Easton at Hazleton, 
York at Carbondale. 

September 5, 7.— Philadelphia at 
Pottsville, Carbondale at 
Easton, York at Reading, Hazle- 
ton at Lancaster. 

September 9, 10. — Carbondale at 
Philadelphia, Reading at York, 
Lancaster at Pottsville. 

September 11, 12.— Philadelphia 
at York, Carbondale at Read- 
ing, Hazleton at Easton, Potts- 
vifie at Lancaster. 

September 14, 15.— Carbondale at 
Hazleton, Reading at Easton, 
York at Lancaster, Pottsville at 
Philadelphia, 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



289 



WESTERN ASSOCIATION 

SCHEDULE FOR 1896. 



April 23, 25,26.— Peoria at Quincy, 
Dubuque at Burlington, Rock- 
ford at Des Moines, Cedar 
Rapids at St. Joseph. 

April 28, 29, 30.— Dubuque at 
Quincy, Peoria at Burlington, 
Cedar Rapids at Des Moines, 
Rockford at St. Joseph. 

May 1, 2, 3.— Rockford at Quincy, 
Cedar Rapids at Burlington, 
Peoria at Des Moines, Dubuque 
at St. Joseph. 

May 4, 5, 6.— Cedar Rapids at 
Quincy, Rockford at Burling- 
ton, Dubuque at Des Moines, 
Peoria at St. Joseph. 

May 8, 9, 10. — Quincy at Burling- 
ton, St. Joseph at Des Moines, 
Cedar Rapids at Peoria, Du- 
buque at Rockford. 

May 12, 13, 14.— Burlington at 
Quincy, Des Moines at St. 
Joseph, Dubuque at Cedar 
Rapids, Peoria at Rockford. 

May 15, 16, 17.— Peoria at Cedar 
Rapids, Rockford at Dubuque, 
Burlington at St. Joseph, 
Quincy at Des Moines. 

May 19, 20, 21.— Rockford at Cedar 
Rapids, Peoria at Dubuque, 
Quincy at St. Joseph, Burling- 
ton at Des Moines. 

May 22, 23, 24.— St. Joseph at 
Quincy, Des Moines at Burling- 
ton, Rockford at Peoria, Cedar 
Rapids at Dubuque. 

May 26, 27, 28.— Des Moines at 
Quincy, St. Joseph at Burling- 
ton, Dubuque at Peoria, Cedar 
Rapids at Rockford. 

May 30, 30, 31.— Cedar Rapids at 
Quincy, Des Moines at Rock- 
ford, Burlington at Dubuque, 
St. Joseph at Peoria. 

June 2, 3, 4.— Burlington at Cedar 
Rapids, St. Joseph at Rockford, 
(Quincy at Dubuque, Des 
Moines at Peoria. 

June 5, 6, 7. — Burlington at 
Peoria, St. Joseph at Dubuque, 
Rockford at Quincy, Des Moines 
at Cedar Rapids. 

June 8, 9, 10.— Quincy at Peoria, 
Des Moines at Dubuque, Bur- 
lington at Rockford, St. Joseph 
at Cedar Rapids. 



June 12, 13, 14.— Peoria at 
Rockford, Dubuque at Cedar 
Rapids, St. Joseph at Burling- 
ton, Des Moines at Quincy. 

June 16, 17, 18.— Dubuque at 
Rockford, Cedar Rapids at 
Peoria, Des Moines at Burling- 
ton, St. Joseph at Quincy. 

June 19, 20, 21.— Cedar Rapids at 
Rockford, Dubuque at Peoria, 
Quincy at St. Joseph, Burling- 
ton at Des Moines. 

June 23, 24, 25.— Cedar Rapids at 
Dubuque, Rockford at Peoria, 
Burlington at St. Joseph, 
Quincy at Des Moines. 

June 26, 27, 28.— Rockford at 
Cedar Rapids, Des Moines 
at St. Josei)h, Burlington at 
Quincy, Peoria at Dubuque. 

June 30, July 1, 2.— Peoria at 
Cedar Rapids, Rockford at 
Dubuque, St. Joseph at Des- 
Moines, Quincy at Burlington. 

July 4, 4, 5.— Dubuque at Quincy, 
Rockford at Burlington, Peoria 
at Des Moines, Cedar Rapids at 
St. Joseph. 

July 7, 8, 9. — Rockford at Quincy ^ 
Dubuque at Burlington, Cedar 
Rapids at Des Moines, Peoria at 
St. Joseph. 

July 10, 11, 12.— Cedar Rapids at 
Quincy, Peoria at Burlington, 
Dubuque at Des Moines, Rock- 
ford at St. Joseph. 

July 13, 14, 15.— Peoria at Quincy, 
Cedar Rapids at Burlington, 
Rockford at Des Moines, Du- 
buque at St. Joseph. 

July 17, 18, 19.— St. Joseph at 
Cedar Rapids, Burlington at 
Rockford, Des Moines at Du- 
buque, Quincy at Peoria. 

July 21, 22, 23.— Des Moines at 
Cedar Rapids, Quincy at Rock- 
ford, St. Joseph at Dubuque, 
Burlington at Peoria. 

July 24, 25, 26.— Quincy at Cedar 
Rapids, St. Joseph at Rock- 
ford, Burlington at Dubuque, 
Des Moines at Peoria. 

July 27, 28, 29.— Burlington at 
Cedar Rapids, Des Moines at 
Rockford, Quincy at Dubuque, 
St. Joseph at Peoria. 



290 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Wester:n Association Schedule— Continued, 



July 31, August 1, 2.— Cedar 
Rapids at Quincy, Peoria at 
Burlington, Rockford at Des 
Moines, Dubuque at St. Joseph. 

August 4, 5, 6.— Feoria at Quincy, 
Cedar Rapids at Burlington, 
Dubuque at Des Moines, Rock- 
ford at St. Joseph. 

August 7, 8, 9.— Rockford at 
Quincy, Dubuque at Burling- 
ton, Cedar Rapids at Des 
Moines, Peoria at St. Joseph. 

August 10, 11, 12.— Dubuque at 
Quincy, Rockford at Burling- 
ton, Peoria at Des Moines, 
Cedar Rapids at St. Joseph. 

August 14, 15, 16. — Burlington at 
Cedar Rapids, Des Moines 
at Rockford, St. Joseph at 
Dubuque, Quincy at Peoria. 

August 18, 19, 20.— Quincy at 
Cedar Rapids, St. Joseph at 
Rockford, Burlington at Du- 
buque, Des Moines at Peoria. 

August 21, 22, 23.— Des Moines at 
Cedar Rapids, Burlington at 
Rockford, Quincy at Dubuque, 
St. Joseph at Peoria. 



August 24, 25, 26.— St. Joseph at 
Cedar Rapids, Quincy at Rock- 
ford, Des Moines at Dubuque, 
Burlington at Peoria. 

August 28, 29,30.— Peoria at Rock- 
ford, Cedar Rapids at Dubuque, 
Burlington at St. Joseph, 
Quincy at Des Moines. 

September 1, 2, 3. — Burlington at 
Des Moines, Quincy at St. 
Joseph, Rockford at Dubuque, 
Peoria at Cedar Rapids. 

September 4, 5, 6.— Rockford at 
Cedar Rapids, Peoria at Du- 
buque, Des Moines at Burling- 
ton, St. Joseph at Quincy. 

September 7, 7, 8.— Dubuque at 
Cedar Rapids, Rocltford at 
Peoria, St. Joseph at Burling- 
ton, Des Moines at Quincy. 

September 11, 12, 13.— Cedar 
Rapids at Rockford, Dubuque 
at Peoria, Des Moines at St. 
Joseph, Burlington at Quincy. 

September 14, 15, 16.— Dubuque 
at Rockford, Cedar Rapids at 
Peoria, St. Joseph at Des 
Moines, Quincy at Burlington. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



291 



VIRGINIA LEAGUE SCHEDULE 

FOR 1896. 



April 16, 17, 18.— Portsmouth at 
Norfolk, Roanoke at Richmond, 
Petersburg at Lynchburg. 

April 20, 21, 22.— Richmond at 
Roanoke, Norfolk at Peters- 
burg, Lynchburg at Ports- 
mouth. 

April 23, 24, 25.— Petersburg at 
Portsmouth, Lynchburg at 
Richmond, Norfolk at Roa- 
noke. 

April 27, 28, 29.— Roanoke at Nor- 
folk, Portsmouth at Lynchburg, 
Richmond at Petersburg. 

April 30, May 1, 2.— Roanoke at 
Portsmouth, Norfolk at Rich- 
mond, Lynchburg at Peters- 
burg. 

May 4, 5, 6.— Petersburg at Nor- 
folk, Richmond at liynchburg, 
Portsmouth at Roanoke. 

May 7, 8, 9.— Petersburg at Roan- 
oke, Portsmouth at Richmond, 
Lynchburg at Norfolk. 

May 11, 12, 13.— Norfolk at Lynch- 
burg, Roanoke at Petersburg, 
Richmond at Portsmouth. 

May 14, 15, 16.— Petersburg at 
Richmond, Norfolk at Ports- 
mouth, Lynchburg at Roanoke. 

May 18, 19, 20.— Richmond at 
Norfolk, Portsmouth at Peters- 
burg, Roanoke at Lynchburg. 

May 21, 22, 23.— Petersburg at 
Portsmouth, Lynchburg at 
Richmond, Norfolk at Roanoke. 

May 25, 26, 27.— Portsmouth at 
Roanoke, Richmond at Lynch- 
burg, Petersburg at Norfolk. 

May 28, 29, 30, 30.— Portsmouth at 
Norfolk, Roanoke at Richmond, 
Petersburg at Lynchburg. 

June 1, 2, 3.— Lynchburg at Ports- 
mouth, Norfolk at Petersburg, 
Richmond at Roanoke. 

June 4, 5, 6.— Roanoke at Norfolk, 
Norfolk at Richmond, Lynch- 
burg at Petersburg. 

June 8, 9, 10.— Richmond at 
Petersburg, Portsmouth at 
Lynchburg, Roanoke at Nor- 
folk. 

June 11, 12, 13.— Petersburg at 
Lynchburg, Portsmouth at Nor- 
folk, Roanoke at Richmond. 

June 15, 16, 17.— Richmond at 



Portsmouth, Norfolk at Lynch- 
burg, Petersburg at Roanoke. 

June 18, 19, 20.— Norfolk at Ports- 
mouth, Petersburg at Rich- 
mond, Lynchburg at Roanoke. 

June 22, 23, 24.— Roanoke at 
Lynchburg, Portsmouth at 
Petersburg, Richmond at Nor- 
folk. 

June 25, 26, 27.— Roanoke at 
Petersburg, Portsmouth at 
Richmond, Lynchburg at Nor- 
folk. 

June 29, 30, July 1.— Norfolk at 
Petersburg, Lynchburg at Nor- 
folk, Richmond at Roanoke. 

July 2, 3, 4, 4.— Norfolk at Ports- 
mouth,, Lynchburg at Rich- 
mond, Petersburg at Roanoke. 

July 6, 7, 8.— Roanoke at Norfolk, 
Portsmouth at Petersburg, 
Richmond at Lynchburg. 

July 9, 10, 11.— Roanoke at Ports- 
mouth, Petersburg at Rich- 
mond, Norfolk at Lynchburg. 

July 13, 14, 15.— Richmond at 
Portsmouth, Lynchburg at 
Petersburg, Norfolk at Roanoke. 

July 16, 17, 18.— Roanoke at Rich- 
mond, Portsmouth at Lynch- 
burg, Petersburg at Norfolk. 

July 20, 21, 22.— Roanoke at 
Lynchburg, Richmond at 
Petersburg, Portsmouth at Nor- 
folk. 

July 23, 24, 25.— Lynchburg at 
Roanoke, Norfolk at Richmond, 
Petersburg at Portsmouth. 

July 27, 28, 29.— Portsmouth at 
Roanoke, Petersburg at Lynch- 
burg, Richmond at Norfolk. 

July 30,31, August 1.— Roanoke 
at Richmond, Portsmouth at 
Norfolk, Lynchburg at Peters- 
burg. 

August 3, 4, 5. — Norfolk at Ports- 
mouth, Roanoke at Petersburg, 
Richmond at Lynchburg, 

August 6, 7, 8.— Portsmouth at 
Norfolk, Roanoke at Lynch- 
burg, Petersburg at Richmond. 

August 10, 11, 12.— Lynchburg at 
Norfolk, Richmond at Peters- 
burg, Portsmouth at Roanoke. 

August 13, 14, 15.— Lynchburg at 
I*brtsmoutli, Norfolk at Rich- 



293 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Virginia League Schedule— Continued. 



mond, Petersburg at Roa- 
noke. 

August 17, 18, 19.— Petersburg at 
Portsmouth, Norfolk at Lynch- 
burg, Richmond at Roanoke. 

August 20, 21, 22.— Portsmouth at 
Richmond, Roanoke at Lynch- 
burg, Petersburg at Norfolk. 

August 24, 25, 26. — Richmond at 
Norfolk, Portsmouth at Peters- 
burg, Lynchburg at Roanoke. 

August 27, 28, 29.— Norfolk at 
Portsmouth, Lynchburg at 
Richmond, Roanoke at Peters- 
burg. 

August 31, September 1, 2.— 
Petersburg at Lynchburg, Rich- 



mond at Portsmouth, Norfolk 
at Roanoke. 

September 3, 4, 5.— Richmond at 
Roanoke, Lynchburg at Ports- 
mouth, Norfolk at Petersburg. 

September 7, 7, 8, 9.— Roanoke at 
Norfolk, Richmond at Peters- 
burg, Portsmouth at Lynch- 
burg. 

September 11, 12, 13.— Roanoke at 
Portsmouth, Lynchburg at 
Richmond, Norfolk at Peters- 
burg. 

September 14, 15, 16.— Petersburg 
at Norfolk, Portsmouth at 
Richmond, Lynchburg at 
Roanoke. 



THE VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



293 



ATLANTIC ASSOCIATION 

SCHEDULE FOR 1896. 



April 23, 24.— New Haven at Hart- 
ford. 

April 23, 25, 26.— Jersey City at 
Newark, Wilmington at Pater- 
son. 

April 25, 27, 28.— Hartford at New 
Haven. 

April 27, 29.— Newark at Jersey 
City. 

April 29, 30.— Paterson at Wil- 
mington. 

April 30, May 2, 3.— New Haven at 
Paterson, Hartford at Newark. 

May 1, 2.— Wilmington at Jersey 
City. 

May 4, 5, 6.— Paterson at Newark, 
New Haven at Jersey City, 
Hartford at Wilmington. 

May 7, 8, 9.— Hartford at Jersey 
City, Newark at Paterson, New 
Haven at Wilmington. 

May 10.— Jersey City at Newark, 
Hartford at Paterson. 

May 11, 12, 13.— Jersey City at 
Hartford, Paterson at New 
Haven, Newark at Wilmington. 

May 14, 15, 16.— Paterson at Hart- 
ford, Jersey City at New Haven. 

May 14, 16, 17.— Wilmington at 
Newark. 

May 17, 18, 19.— Jersey City at 
Paterson. 

May 18, 19, 20.— Wilmington at 
New Haven, Newark at Hartford. 

May 21, 22.— Newark at New 
Haven. 

May 21, 22, 23.— Wilmington at 
Hartford, Paterson at Jersey 
City. 

May 24, 26, 27.— New Haven at 
Paterson, Hartford at Newark. 

May 25, 26, 27.— Jersey City at 
Wilmington. 

May 26, 29.— Paterson at Newark. 

May 28, 29.— Hartford at Wil- 
mington, New Haven at Jersey 
City. 

May 29, 30 (a. m.) — New Haven at 
Hartford. 

May 30 (a. m., p. m.)— Wilmington 
at Paterson. 

May 30 (a. m.) — Newark at Jersey 
City. 

May 30 (p. m.)— .Jersey City at 
Newark, Hartford at New 
Haven. 



May 31.— Wilmington at Newark, 
Jersey City at Paterson. 

June 1, 2, 3.— New Haven at Wil- 
mington, Hartford at Paterson. 

June 2, 3.— Newark at Jersey Citv. 

June 4, 5, 6.— Paterson at Wil- 
mington, Hartford at Jersey 
City. 

June 4, 6, 7.— New Haven at 
Newark. 

June 7, 9, 10.— Hartford at Pater- 
son. 

June 8, 9, 10.— Newark at Wil- 
mington, Jersey City at New 
Haven. 

June 11, 13.— New Haven at Hart- 
ford. 

June 12.— Hartford at New 
Haven. 

June 11, 12, — Newark at Paterson. 

June 11, 12, 13.— Jersey City at 
Wilmington. 

June 14. — Wilmington at Pater- 
son, Jersey City at Newark. 

June 15, 16.— Hartford at New 
Haven, Newark at Paterson. 

June 16, 17. — Paterson at Jersey 
City, Wilmington at Newark. 

June 17, 20.— New Haven at Hart- 
ford. 

June 19, 20.— Paterson at Newark. 

June 18, 19, 20.— Wilmington at 
Jersey City. 

June 21.— Hartford at Newark. 

June 21, 23. — New Haven at Pater- 
son. 

June 22, 23, 24.— Wilmington at 
Hartford. 

June 23. — Hartford at Paterson. 

June 23, 24. — Newark at Jersey 
City. 

June 25, 26, 27.— Wilmington at 
New Haven, Newark at Hart- 
ford, Paterson at Jersey City. 

June 28.— Jersey City at Paterson. 

June 28, 30.— Wilmington at 
Newark. 

June 29, 30, July 1.— Jersey City 
at Hartford, Paterson at New 
Haven. 

July 1.— Paterson at New Haven, 
Jersey City at Newark. 

July 4 (a. m.) — Newark at New 
Haven, Newark at Jersey City. 

July 4 (a. m., p. m.) — Paterson at 
Wilnoiington. 



294 



THfi VICTOR BASEBALL GUIDE. 



Atlantic Association Schedule— Continued. 



July 4 (p. m.)— New Haven at 
Hartford , Jersey City at Newark. 

July 5. — Ha r [ford at Faterson, 
New Haven at Newark. 

July C, 7, 8. — Newark at Wilming- 
ton, Paterson at Hartford. 

July 7,8, 9.— Jersey City at New 
Haven. 

July 10, 11, — Wilmington at Jerse v 
City. 

July 11.— Hartford at Newark. 

July 12. — Wilmington at Pater- 
son, Jersey Citv at Newark. 

July 13, 14, 15.— Newark at Pater- 
son, New Haven at Jersev Citv. 

July 14, 15.— Hartford at Wilming- 
ton. 

July 16, 18.— Hartford at Pater- 
son. 

July 16, 17, 18.— New Haven at 
Wilmington, Newark at Jersev 
City. 

July 19. — New Haven at Pater- 
son, Hartford at Newark. 

July 20, 21, 22.— Hartford at 
Jersey City. 

July 21,' 22.— New Haven at New- 
ark. 

July 22.— Paterson at Wilmington. 

July 23, 24, 25.— Paterson at Hart- 
ford. Newark at New Haven, 
Jersey City at Wilmington. 

July 26.— Wilmington at Newark, 
Jersey Citv at Paterson. 

July 27, 28,*^ 29.— Wilmington at 
Jersey City, Newark at Hart- 
ford, Paterson at New Haven. 

July 30, 31.— Paterson at Wilming- 
ton. 

July 30, 31, August 1.— New 
Haven at Jersey City. 

August 1.— V/ilmington at Pater- 
son. 

August 1,2.— Hartford at Newark. 

August 2.— New Haven at Pater- 
son. 

August 3,4, 5.— Newark at Pater- 
son, Jersey City at Hartford, 
Wilmington at New Haven. 

August 6, 8. — Paterson at New- 
ark. 

August 6, 7, 8.— Wilmington at 
Hartford. 

August 9.— Wilmington at Pater- 
son. 

August 10, 11, 12.— Paterson at 
Hartford, Newark at New 
Haven. 

August 11, 12.— AVilmington at 
Jersey City. 



August 13, 14, 15. — Newark at 
Hartford, Paterson at New 
Haven, Jersey City at Wilming- 
ton. 

August 16.— Hartford at Paterson, 
Nevv^ Haven at Newark. 

August 18, 19.— Jersey City at 
Paterson. 

August 17, 18, 19.— Newark at 
Wilmington, Hartford at New 
Haven. 

August 21, 23. — Wilmington at 
Newark. 

August 21), 22.— New Haven at 
Hartford, Wilmington at Pater- 
son. 

August 22. — Jersey City at New- 
ark. 

August 24, 25, 26.— Wilmington at 
Hartford, Jersey City at New 
Haven. 

August 26, 29.— Paterson at New- 
ark. 

August 27, 28, 29.— Jersey City at 
Hartford, Wilmington at New 
Haven. 

August 30. — Hartford at Newark, 
New Haven at Paterson. 

August 31.— Hartford at Wil- 
mington. 

September 1, 2.— Hartford at 
Wilmington. 

September 1, 2, 3. — Paterson at 
Jersey 
Newark. 

September 3, 4, 5. — New Haven at 
Wilmington, Hartford at 
Jersey City. 

September 5. — Paterson at New- 
ark. 

September 6. — Wilmington at 
Paterson, Jersey City at^ewark. 

Septeml^er 7 {R. m.)— New Haven 
at Hartford, Newark at Jersey 
City. 

September 7 (a. m.,p.m.) — Pater- 
son at W^ilmington. 

September 7 (p. m.)— Hartford at 
New Haven, Jersey City at 
Newark. 

Sei)tember 8, 9, 10, 11. — Newark 
at New Haven. 

September 8, 9, 10.— Jersey City 
at Paterson. 

September 11, 12.— Hartford at 
Wilmington. 

September 12, 13.— New Haven at 
Newark. 

Sei»tember 13.— Hartford at Pat- 
erson. 



OVERMAN WHEEL C03IPANY. 295 



Baseball Ooods« 

Balls. 

Victor League Ball. Adopted hy many local associa- 
tions. Strictly hand made No. 91. Price, each, .1^1.25 



M: 



VICTOR tiAbUL dAlL 



No. 01. 

American League Baseball No. 88. Trice, each, .^1.00 

Interscholastic Baseball No. 87. Price, each, 1.00 

Boys' League Baseball No. 89. Price, each, 1.00 

International League Baseball. No. 86. Price, each, .75 

Corker No. 92. Price, each, ,50 

High School League No. 50. Price, each, .50 

Pitchers' Pride No. 52. Price, each, .35 

Boys' Best No. 55. Price, each, .25 

Bounder No. 58. Price, each, .10 

Star No. 50. Price, each, .05 

Mitts and Oloves. 

Green-Brown Mitt, equipped with patent thumb strap 

and lace No, 15. Price, each, .^8.00 

Victor Special Mitt, patent thumb strap and lace. 

No. 8. Price, each, 7.00 

Victor Mitt, patent thumb strap and lace 

, No. 9. Price, each, 5.00 

Special League Mitt, heavy sheepskin, thumb strap 

and patent lace. No. 10. Price, each, 3.50 

League Mitt. Horsehide, with patent lace and thumb 

strap ; .....'. No. 11. Price, each, 2.50 

Extra League Mitt. A nov«l combination of horse- 
hide and calfskin, patent lace and thumb strap 

No. 11 X. Price, each, 3.00 



296 OVERMAN WHESIi COMPANY. 





No. 15. Ko. 9. 

BoTS' League Mitt. Sheepskin, heavily padded, thumb 

strap. A large mitt No. 20. Price, each, $1.00 

Youths' League Mitt. Good quality red sheep, like 
No. 20. Extra large No. 4. 





No. IIX. No 22. 

Boys' Reserve List Mitt No. 21. Price, each, .50 

Men's Practice Mitt. Extra large. No. 22. Price, each, .^5 

Boys' Practice Mitt No. 22B. Price, each, .»5 





No. 24. No. 25. No. 26. 

Fielders' Olo^es and mitts. 

Victor Baseman's Glove. Special design 

No. 24. Price, each, S3.00 

Victor Fielder's Glove. Special design 

No. 25. Price, each, }8,50 



OVERMAN WHEEL COMPANY. 



297 



Victor Baseman's Mitt. Made exactly in accordance 

with League requirements No. 26. Price, each, $3.0O 

Buck Fielder's Glove No. 27. Price, each, 1.35 

Buck Baseman's Glove No. 28. Price, each, 1.50 

Buckskin Fielder's Glove No. 14. Price, each, 1.00 

Gold Tan Fielder's Glove. Cheapest good fielder's 

glove on the market No. 23. Price, each, .50 

Bats* 

Victor Bat. Approved Models, extra quality of wood. 

No. 97. Price, each, $1.00 

Special League Bat No. 98. Price, each, .75 



Ko. 97. 



Xo. 98. 



League Bat No. 99. 

Professional League Bat No. 100. 

Boys' League Bat No. 96. 



Price, each, $0.50 
Price, each, ,25 
Price, each, .10 



XJniforins. 

We make up uniforms to order at short notice. Send for 
measurement blank or tear measurement blank from our large 
catalogue. Do not measure too tight in measuring for uni- 
forms. 

Victor Uniform No. 80. Price, complete, each, $15.00 

Special Uniform No. 81. Price, complete, each, 10.00 

League Uniform No. 82. Price, complete, each, 7.00 

Professional Uniform. No. 83. Price, complete, each, 5.00 

For lettering uniforms we charge 15 cents per word ; 5 cents 
per letter where single letters are used. 

Caps* 





Jockey Style. 



Chicago Style. 



In various shades of gray, and all plain colors. 

Best Quality Cap .No. 500. Price, each, $1.00 

Good Quality Cap No. 501. Price, each, .75 




Belts. 

Heavy Leather Belt 

No. 529. Price, each, $1.00 

Heavy Leather Belt 

No. 628. Price, each, .75 

Good Leather Belt 

No. 527. Price, each, .60 



298 



OVERMAN WHEEX COMPANY. 



Boys' Leather Belt No. 526. Price, each, SO. 25 

Worsted Web Belt No. 530. Price, each, .50 

Cotton Web Belt No. 531. Price, each, .25 

Uniform Bag, all leather No. 84. Price, each, 3.00 



Elastic Banclasres. 

Notice our particularly low retail prices. 



Silk, 



*Elbow Bandage Sl-75* 

* Shoulder Bandage 4.50* 

* Wrist Bandage 90* 

* Knee Bandage 1.75* 

* Ankle Bandage 1.75* 



Cotton. 

§1.25* 

3.00* 

.65* 

1.25* 

1.25* 



[] 



Hose. 

Price, per pair, $1.50* 



I i 



* Imported No. 513. 

* Plain Heavy Worsted 

No. 515. Price, per pair, 

*Same, Ribbed . . . .No. 515R. Price, per pair, 
*Medium Worsted 

No. 514. Price, per pair, 

* Extra Black Cotton 

No. 509. Price, per pair. 



1.25* 

1.25* 

1.00* 

.50* 



'm 



Basetiall Slioes 

Of Our Own 3Iaiinfacture. 





No. 161. _^ 

No. 164. 

Special League Shoe. Heel and toe plates 

No. 161. Price, per pair, $3.00 

Kangaroo Shoe. Heel and toe plates 

No. 162. Price, per pair, 5.00 

Victor Kangaroo Shoe. Heel and toe plates 

No. 164. Price, per pair, 7.00 



Slioe Plates. 

Best Quality Heel or Toe.. .^I^; IJg] | Price, per pair, $0.50 
Extra Quality Heel or Toe-.^J^; l\l' | Price, per pair, .25 
Special League Plates No. 306. Price, per pair, .10 

* All prices printed in light face figures are on goods we cannot guarantee. 
On these we make a 10 to 25 per cent, concession below prices quoted in the 
catalogues ot other dealers. 



OVERMAN TTHEEt COMPANY. 



299 






No. 316. No. 320. 

Pitcliers' Xoe Plates. 

Pitchers' Toe Plates, Rights ( No. 320: ) ^_..,_ ^„,.x. ^=5^ <^n 
or Lefts I No. .321. } ■^^^'^*^' ^'^''^' '*""^" 

Bat Bas:s. 

Club Bag, for eighteen bats, brown duck, leather ends. 

No. 322. Price, each, S4.00 

Individual Bag, duck, 

leather ends 

. .No. 323. Price, each, S1.50 
Individual Bag, duck, 

..No. 324. Price, each, l.oo 

No. 323. 

A ^ ----^«^ Sases. 

-^ '^zm Quilted. Canvas 

?■'' ' ^ No. 508. Price, per set, .1(57.00 
V ..--si^'-'^ai^^- . J Leather Bases, heavy can- 
vas 

No. 507. Price, per set, 5.00 

No. 508. 

Ritcliers' Plate. 

Regulation Size No. 32G. Price, each, S8.00 

No. 326. i 

No. 325. 

Ruf)t>er Home Plate. 

Regulation Size No. 325. Price, each, .1^7.00 

Supporters. 

Adjustable .No. 548. Price, each, $0.50 

Morton's No. 549. Price, each, .50 

Leather Ankle Supporter. .No. 659. Price, per pair, 1.00 

Leather Wrist Supporter.. No. 560. Price, each, ,j?5 




300 



OVERMAN TVHBEI. COMPANY. 



Body Protectors. 

Best Body Protector. Carefully shaped, extra 

strong, with inflator No. 310. Price, each, SIO.OO 

Special League Body Protector 

No. 311. Price, each, 6.00 




No. 310, Ko. 311. No. 313. No. 315. 

masks. 

Carefully made to guard against breakage and consequent 
injury to players and umpires. 

Victor Mask, enameled No. 313. Price, each, $3.50 

Victor Mask, tinned No. 314. Price, each, 3.00 

Boys' Mask, extra heavy wire No. 315. Price, each, 1.85 

Men's Special League Mask, extra heavy wire. 

No. 312. Price, each, 1.85 

Victor Baseball Ouide. 

Directions for playing ball by Jno. M. Ward, Ex-Captain and 
Manager of the New York Team ; a clearly worded code of rules 
corrected and revised under the editorship of Clarence W. 
Smith, baseball coach at Harvard. These rules contain the 
substance of the rules as revised by the League Committee but 
are very much more clear and intelligible. They differ in no 
respect from the League Rules. They can be followed by all clubs 
implicitly. Baseball statistics, etc. Price, per copy, $0.10 



PRESS OF 

SPRINGFIELD PRINTING AND BINDING COMPANY, 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 



m 






H^jU 



Victor Athletic Goods 

Are known among Athletes as 
the best that experience and 
painstaking care can produce. 

OUR TRADE=MARK 

Is a guarantee of finest quality. 



WHY NOT USE THE BEST? 



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